MEDIA RELEASE: Senate to block Dutton’s harmful citizenship legislation changes

Labor welcomes the news today that the Nick Xenophon team will also oppose the Government’s harmful and snobbish proposed changes to Australian citizenship legislation.

This legislation demands that future citizens have university level English unless they come from the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Ireland.

It also involves delays which will leave many potential citizens waiting for more than a decade before they are ever asked to pledge allegiance.

This legislation was never about national security, it was never about integration and the Government should announce it will not be proceeding with it.

Citizenship shouldn’t be about politics. Citizenship is about who we are as a nation and these proposed changes are a direct attack on Australia as a modern multicultural country.

TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2017