Taylor says higher risk of ‘bad people coming from bad countries’ and that welcome to country ceremonies ‘overused’

<p>Opposition leader doubles down on immigration policy and defends preferencing One Nation over independent in Farrer in ABC interview</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/apr/26/australia-news-live-victoria-car-registration-rebate-cost-of-living-fuel-crisis-anzac-angus-taylor-albanese-chris-bowen-labor-liberal-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, has said “there is a higher risk that some bad people come from those bad countries”, doubling down on his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/14/angus-taylor-immigration-australia-donald-trump-inspiration">immigration policy</a> and refusing to call out Pauline Hanson’s hardline stance.</p><p>Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday, Taylor said Indigenous welcome to country ceremonies were overused, after booing incidents at some of Saturday’s Anzac Day dawn services. He also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/21/farrer-byelection-liberal-national-one-nation-pauline-hanson-preference-ntwnfb">defended preferencing One Nation</a> above the independent community candidate, Michelle Milthorpe, in the upcoming Farrer byelection, arguing the teals “vote with the Greens”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/26/angus-taylor-higher-risk-bad-people-coming-from-bad-countries-singles-out-iran">Continue reading.