Cirrus@Austlit

'It was always going to be 'Australian-style. When Boris Johnson unveiled his government's new points-based immigration system in early February 2020, designed to 'deliver Brexit' by shifting Britain's migrant intake 'away from a reliance on cheap labour from Europe', the spin cycle was at full tilt. This was no raising of the drawbridge, but a signal that 'the UK is open and welcoming to the top talent front across the world' — inspired by the shining example of Australia. Throughout the 2019 election campaign, Johnson had relentlessly touted an 'Australian-style points-based system' as a way of 'taking back control' of Britain's borders. Though criticised by his own independent advisory committee for signalling 'different things to different people, the 'Australian-style' tag stuck.' (Introduction)