Leading Brexit campaigners have unveiled plans to introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system if the UK votes to leave the European Union (EU) on June 23.
A statement from Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel, and Gisela Stuart sets out the blueprint for an immigration system which would spell the end of the automatic right of EU citizens to come to live and work in the UK.
Instead, the right to come to the UK would be based on skills.
The statement said: "By the next general election, we will create a genuine Australian-style points-based immigration system.
"The automatic right of all EU citizens to come to live and work in the UK will end, as will EU control over vital aspects of our social security system.
"EU citizens will be subject to legislation made by those we elect in Westminster, not in Brussels. We could then create fairness between EU citizens and others, including those from Commonwealth countries."
The new system would mean all applications to live and work in the UK would be determined based on skills and qualifications "without discrimination on the ground of nationality".
The statement said: "To gain the right to work, economic migrants will have to be suitable for the job in question.
"For relevant jobs, we will be able to ensure that all those who come have the ability to speak good English.
"Such a system can be much less bureaucratic and much simpler than the existing system for non-EU citizens."
Immigration has been one of the most important driving factors in the referendum campaign so far and with a matter of weeks to go until the nation goes to the polls, the Leave campaign has finally set out its vision for post-Brexit border control.
The statement points out that some 77,000 jobseekers came to the UK from the EU last year despite it being government policy that people coming from Europe should have a job offer in the first place.
It also highlights concerns that voting to Remain – and for the continued application of the principle of free movement - would mean increased pressure being placed on things like school class sizes, wages and UK security.
It also suggests that the "tragic scenes unfolding in the Mediterranean underline how badly the European Union is handling population movements and migration pressures".
"If we remain in the EU the situation is only likely to get worse," the statement said.
Johnson, Gove, Patel and Stuart also cite the Conservative Party's election commitment to cut net immigration to the tens of thousands as evidence for the need for a change in approach.
They said: "This promise is plainly not achievable as long as the UK is a member of the EU and the failure to keep it is corrosive of public trust in politics."
The four believe that if the UK backs Brexit "a new, safer and more humane" immigration policy should be introduced "as rapidly as possible" and that such plans would be "broadly supported across British society".
The new system would mean no change for Irish citizens or for EU citizens who are already lawfully resident in the UK.
Such EU citizens would automatically be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
But legal changes would be made to "take back the power to remove criminals and other persons whose presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good".
The statement also suggests there would be an immediate need to end the application of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights to UK law.
The combination of these measures would allow "for the first time in a generation" politicians to "keep their promises on migration", according to the foursome.
"We will welcome new citizens who wish to contribute to our society, as so many immigrants have done," they said.
"And we will be able to remove those who abuse our hospitality."
Will Straw, executive director of Britain Stronger in Europe, criticised the Leave campaign's announcement and suggested the proposed points-based system could lead to higher levels of immigration.
"This system will not work," he said.
"Vote Leave's proposal could put up immigration and it would wreck our economy, as it involves leaving Europe's Single Market.
"Australia, who have a points based immigration system, have twice as many migrants per head as the UK.
"Economic experts are agreed that leaving the Single Market would lead to recession - costing jobs and raising prices."
In 2014, Migrant Watch UK concluded that Australia's points-based system would be "totally unsuitable" for Britain.
Australia is infamous for its hardline approach to immigration and has been accused of locking away refugees for years without charge or trial. It operates a “hybrid” selection system for skilled migrants that includes both a points-based system and employer sponsorship options.
Australia also detains migrants at detention centres who have overstayed their visa, breached their visa conditions and had their visa cancelled, or have been refused entry at Australia's entry ports.