News
Oz citizenship rules change
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has recently announced the biggest changes to Australia's citizenship laws in almost 60 years
The Australian Citizenship Bill states that migrants now have to be resident in the country for four years before they will be able to apply for 'True Blue' Aussie status, double the length of time they previously had to be present in the country for. The government had originally proposed a three-year period, but upped it to four in the wake of increased security concerns.
Another change is that the Australian Security and Intelligence organisation will be able to veto a person's citizenship application, should it think the person in question poses a potential risk to national security, or has links with organised terrorist groups.
The age at which people become exempt from passing an English language test has also been raised from 50 to 60. There will also now be more ministerial discretion placed on citizenship applicants who hold a criminal record.
The changes do, however, make it easier for anyone who has previously renounced their Australian citizenship to regain it, providing they are of good character and don't pose a security risk.
One new measure that is yet to be announced, but is likely to be by the end of the year, is the introduction of a citizenship test, similar to the one migrants must currently pass to assume British citizen status. The test will examine an immigrant's knowledge on Australian culture and history, and is designed to ensure that newcomers share Australia's core values.
The proposal to introduce such a test has received widespread backing from the Australian public, with 60 per cent of respondents to a discussion paper stating that the implementation of a citizenship test would be a good idea.
22 March 2007