Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull insists citizenship must reflect Australian values as he unveiled tighter requirements for new applicants.
“There is no more important title in our democracy than Australian citizen,” he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
“Australian citizenship should be honoured, cherished. It is a privilege.”
To become citizens applicants will need to have been a permanent resident for four years – up from 12 months now – face a stand-alone English test and commit to embracing Australian values.
Prospective citizens with a permanent or enduring incapacity, as well as those aged under 16, would be exempted from the English reading, writing and listening test.
Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong doesn’t understand the need for the changes.
“If English grammar is the test there might be a few members of parliament who might struggle,” she told ABC radio.
The existing pledge ensured new citizens committed loyalty to Australia, its people and its laws.
“I think those sentiments are pretty good,” Senator Wong said, noting the opposition was yet to see the details.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is again taking credit for the government’s latest crackdown.
“Good to see the PM is finally acting on the suggestions I made to him about the citizenship test,” she tweeted on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Senator Hanson said while the government might deny it was talking tough on temporary foreign worker visas because of One Nation, “we all know the truth”.
“Looks like Malcolm Turnbull has been reading One Nation 2016 campaign flyers for inspiration. Should I get a speech writing credit?” she said.
Top Comments
I think some of these should be included to apply for permanent residency, not just citizenship.
You will get people disagreeing with whatever values are put in there. Push past the complainers and use values that if we don't have then we should.
Maybe I'm misreading something but none of the questions seem that unreasonable....