Citizenship rejig looms

Dutton pursues changes aimed at promoting integration

THE Federal Government will unveil details of its planned changes to make it tougher to get Australian citizenship this week.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton will introduce to Parliament legislation that extends permanent residency from one year to four before people can apply for citizenship, toughens English language competencies, intro- duces a values test, and requires people to demonstrate they have integrated into Australian society.

He has briefed Labor on the Bill and called on the Opposition to support its passage through Parliament.

“It is a Bill that suits the times we’re living in and the Government is very serious about making sure that people who pledge their allegiance to our country abide by our laws and our values,” the Minister told reporters in Canberra yesterday.

The longer people had to stay as permanent residents before applying for citizenship was a key component because it gave them more time to demonstrate they had integrated into Australian society through things like holding a job or making sure kids went to school. It allowed the Government to look at a longer period before deciding if people should be able to become citizens, rather than only a “pointin-time snapshot”.

Four years was on the shorter side of requirements across other Western democracies, Mr Dutton said.

He indicated permanent residents who failed character tests would be able to stay in Australia unless it was possible to cancel their visas. “It may mean that they can remain on a permanent visa and become an Australian citizen at some other time when they can prove good character, but if they have been involved in violence, gang violence, terrorist-related activities, whatever it might be, then they won’t be getting citizenship,” Mr Dutton said.

The Bill is expected to be sent to a Senate committee for detailed examination before it comes to a vote.

Mr Dutton called on Labor to stand by its initial support for the measures, but said he was prepared to negotiate with Senate crossbenchers if the opposition wouldn’t step up.

“I’m willing to consider any measure which can be demonstrated to keep the public safe,” he said. AAP