Scott Morrison is set to slash Australia's immigration intake by 30,000 people a year in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacre Immigration cap of 160,000 people per year is expected to be introduced Mr Morrison said there was a 'tribalism' distorting the discussion of immigration Prime Minister said debate about migrant numbers wasn't related to their value By Ben Hill For Daily Mail Australia Published: 20:25 GMT, 18 March 2019 | Updated: 20:25 GMT, 18 March 2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing to slash Australia's immigration intake after the shooting massacre at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. A cap of 160,000 people per year is expected to be introduced, setting an official limit for the first time and dropping the average annual intake from 190,000. The government's Expenditure Review Committee has approved the Coalition's broader population policies, The Australian reported. Mr Morrison said there was a 'tribalism' distorting the discussion of issues such as immigration. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) is preparing to slash Australia's immigration intake after the shooting massacre at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand 'The worst example being the despicable appropriation of concerns about immigration as a justification for a terrorist atrocity,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Such views have rightly been denounced. But equally, so too must the imputation that the motivation for supporting moderated immigration levels is racial hatred.' Mr Morrison said debate about the number of migrants moving to Australia each year was not related to the value of immigration to the country. 'Just because Australians are frustrated about traffic jams and population pressures encroaching on their quality of life, especially in this city, does not mean they are anti-migrant or racist,' he said. A regional settlement policy - which will require people in the general skilled migrant scheme to live in cities other than Sydney and Melbourne for at least five years - has also been approved by cabinet. Mr Morrison's comments were criticised by activist group Democracy in Colour Founder Tim Lo Surdo. Mr Morrison said there was a 'tribalism' distorting the discussion of issues such as immigration. Pictured: Office workers walk to work in the Sydney CBD 'Scott Morrison is a professional fear-monger whose desperate scapegoating of the Muslim community over many years has normalised the kind of hatred that was at the root of Friday’s terrorist attack,' Mr Lo Surdo said. The Morrison government had planned to make an announcement on population this week but decided not to after the attacks in Christchurch on Friday. Accused gunman Brenton Tarrant - an Australian citizen - expressed far-right views on immigration and Muslims in a rambling manifesto published ahead of the shootings. Fifty people died in the attacks at Al Noor and Linwood mosques, and dozens more were injured. Tarrant has been charged with murder. Read more: Share or comment on this article: Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility