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Brexit team looks to Aust for help

A promise of Britain introducing Australian-style migration rules has been used to try and sway UK voters to back a "Brexit" from the EU.

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Source: AAP


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Campaigners pushing for Britain to leave the European Union have used a pledge to introduce Australian-style migration rules as part of their last-ditch bid to win over voters.

With Britons due to vote in a historic referendum on whether the UK should leave the 28-member EU, "leave" campaign leader Boris Johnson wrote to voters with a final plea.

His letter, published in the London Metro commuter newspaper, said Britain had to choose between remaining part of a "failing and undemocratic" EU or taking back control so it could determine its own laws and introduce an immigration policy with an Australian-style points system.

"The freedom to change an uncontrolled migration policy that favours the EU and discriminates against skilled engineers from India or paramedics from Australia," he wrote on the eve of Thursday's vote.

Immigration has been a hot issue during the referendum debate, with "leave" campaigners tapping into concerns about the influx of EU migrants who don't need a visa to remain in Britain.

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Johnson has long been a fan of Australia's migration system, which has a cap of 190,000 visas a year. About one third go to skilled migrants who are selected based on a points test.

The Conservative MP and former London mayor also believes that Australia and Britain would become closer if the UK splits from the EU.

However British Prime Minister David Cameron and others who want Britain to remain part of the EU have accused the "leave" campaigners for stoking fear and hate in terms of immigration.

They argue that the UK would be hit by another recession and rising prices in the event of a "Brexit".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that while Britain's EU membership was a matter for Britons, Australia would welcome the UK remaining part of the politico-economic union because of the benefits it brings.

Voters in Britain will go to the polls Thursday night, Australian time, with a result expected within 24 hours.

The final opinion polls are mixed, with a ComRes poll giving the "remain" campaign an eight-point lead.

However a YouGov poll had "remain" just two points ahead, while an Opinium poll had the "leave" campaign one point in front.


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