In response to the mounting pressure, the government has maintained a standard line, stating that all visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and must satisfy all health, character, and security criteria. However, this "business-as-usual" explanation has done little to calm the waters. In the digital age, where social media profiles and family ties are easily visible, the public is less willing to accept bureaucratic opacity. The demand for a "values-based" immigration system—one that aligns more closely with Australia’s stated foreign policy and humanitarian commitments—is becoming a central theme in the political discourse.
