22 Jun Australian Citizenship Update
The Government proceeded with all its original proposals in the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017, which received its first reading in the House of Representatives on 15 June 2017. The Australian Labor Party confirmed on 20 June 2017, that it will be not be supporting the Bill. Some of the proposed changes include:
- All applicants are required to pass a stand-alone English test, involving reading, writing, listening and speaking;
- Applicants are required to have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for at least four years (instead of one year at present);
- Citizenship test will be strengthened with new and more meaningful questions that assess an applicant’s understanding of – and commitment to – shared values and responsibilities;
- Applicants will be required to show the steps they have taken to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community. Examples would include evidence of employment, membership of community organisations and school enrolment for all eligible children.
- An applicant can fail the citizenship test only three times (at present there is no limit to the number of times an applicant can fail the test);
- An automatic fail will be introduced for applicants who cheat during the citizenship test.
- Renaming the ‘pledge of commitment’ to the ‘pledge of allegiance’;
- Allowing a person to be barred for two years if the minister has refused to approve them becoming a citizen on grounds other than failing to meet the residence requirement; and
- Requiring all applicants to be of good character to be eligible for Australian citizenship.
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