Migrant change fails test

A TOUGH new test for migrants wanting to become Aussies will be watered down in a bid to get it through the Senate.

As part of an “Australians first” raft of announcements in April, the Government announced a series of strict requirements to become a naturalised citizen.

These include an Australian values test, such as asking when it is acceptable to “strike your spouse”, tougher police checks and a high-level English language test.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton yesterday said he had offered for the English language requirement to be lowered from “competent” to “moderate” as part of negotiations with the crossbench.

While the crossbench did not accept the proposal, Mr Dutton said negotiations would continue and the independent Senators were “willing to engage”.

Its introduction has also been delayed from the beginning of next year to July 1, while those whose applications have been on hold since April 20 pending the changes will have their applications processed.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said it was “a stupid law” and Labor would not support it.

Other parts of the proposed laws included migrants having to be permanent citizens for four years, instead of just one year, before they take the citizenship test.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection yesterday said almost 120,000 people were waiting for applications to be processed.

Numbers at the last citizenship ceremony on the Gold Coast, on October 5, were down by two thirds due to the April 20 freeze.