By Zac de Silva in Canberra

A Liberal senator has taken aim at his leader’s tone and approach to the debate over migration after the coalition promised to slash the number of foreigners entering Australia.

South Australian senator Andrew McLachlan argued the framing of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s plan to link immigration with the number of homes being built each year risked alienating diaspora communities across the country.

But Senator McLachlan agreed there was a legitimate conversation to be had about migration levels, to ensure new arrivals get the support they need.

“It’s about the tone and our approach, because we cannot – you should not – approach migration as a negative,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

“Certainly it should be controlled, and we don’t want to invite people here without giving them a society that can accommodate them both economically and culturally, but we cannot continue to blame migrants for the problems of our economy.”

In his budget reply speech, the opposition leader promised to set Australia’s net overseas migration level at the number of homes completed in the previous year.

“This is about mass migration running ahead of the homes, roads, hospitals, schools and services Australia can provide,” Mr Taylor told parliament.

Senator McLachlan said that language was unnecessary and politically risky.

“The use of the word mass migration, for example, is not acceptable … it creates anxiety and fear in the community,” he said.

Mr Taylor also promised to bar permanent residents from accessing welfare benefits like JobSeeker.

That would effectively create a two-tiered society, Senator McLachlan said.

“I have deep concerns coming from a multicultural community that we are going to create two types of members in the community going forward with this policy suite,” he said.

At the last election, then-opposition Leader Peter Dutton suffered major backlash from multicultural communities after promising sweeping migration cuts.

Asked about Mr McLachlan’s comments, Mr Taylor denied his comments alienated migrant communities

“No, it alienates the government that’s got it wrong,” he said.

Mr Taylor defended his use of the term “mass migration”, arguing Labor was exceeding its own immigration targets while failing to meet its housing goals.

Prime Minister Albanese said migrants and permanent residents made an important contribution to the nation and accused the opposition of attempting to win votes back from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

“Angus Taylor’s budget reply was all about fighting One Nation. What I’m about is fighting for our nation,” he told reporters in Perth on Tuesday.