Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of these important reforms that are so important to so many Australians, because Australian citizenship is a privilege. Some of us are lucky enough to be born here and acquire citizenship by birth. Some of us come to this country through migration and take the opportunity to acquire Australian citizenship.

My father is one of those who came to this country in 1951. I mentioned in this my maiden speech. He was 17. He was on his own. He had an old guitar, his possessions in a tool box and 25 pounds in his pocket. For those in the younger generation, 25 pounds is $50. It's not a lot of money. He certainly talked for many years about the importance of having money in your pocket. And that's why he worked so very hard, contributed a great deal to this country and still does today. He still works 7 days a week. He is 85 years old and works seven days a week. That's very much part of the values that he has brought to this country.

I think one of the great things about citizenship of this country is that we don't require people to neglect their heritage. We very much encourage them to reflect on their heritage and to preserve their heritage, but we also wish that they would adopt our values and the Australian way of life and contribute as Australian citizens who are born here. Regardless of whether we came here or were born in Australia, it is a privilege to call ourselves Australian citizens. We view the importance of democracy, the rule of law, the right to express ourselves and the right to free speech as parts of what it means to be an Australian and very much parts of what makes this country great. I think that every parliamentarian in this place enjoys the opportunity to go to a citizenship ceremony and see the enthusiasm that our new Australian citizens are bringing to this country, see the enthusiasm with which they embrace the notion of Australian citizenship.

These reforms that we are debating today are important because they place a priority on respect for Australian values and on demonstrating a willingness and an ability to integrate into this great country, Australia. This is about making sure that citizenship is only awarded to the right people. If we award the privilege of Australian citizenship to those who don't respect our values, institutions and the Australian way of life, we are opening ourselves to becoming a nation of division and disunity. We are very much focused on the importance of ensuring that Australian citizenship reflects Australian values.

This bill ensures that every new citizen signs an Australian values statement, but this builds on what is currently in place by requiring applicants to demonstrate they are attempting to integrate with and contribute to the Australian community in accordance with Australian values. Merely signing a form is not enough, as it does little in determining whether these individuals are really serious about their commitment to Australian values and the Australian way of life. The measure in this bill requires them to demonstrate exactly what they are doing to join our Australian family—for example, getting a job, looking for work or paying tax on the work they are doing to contribute financially to their new home. These are practical signs that the applicants for citizenship are genuinely committed to their role in Australian society.

In addition to the police checks currently conducted, the government of the day will also evaluate whether those applying to be Australian citizens have previously engaged in activities that are inconsistent with Australian values. Domestic and family violence is a scourge in this country and something we need to fight, so it would be detrimental to allow violent individuals who have a propensity to conduct themselves in such a way to gain Australian citizenship. Failing to stand for a judge in a court of law in this country would be something very inconsistent with our Australian values. Being involved in heinous or organised crime and being part of a gang are not consistent with Australian values. So it is curious that the Labor Party won't stand up and vote for amendments that will place barriers to those who would not act in the way that I think most Australians think appropriate. The good old Labor Party is pandering to the Left rather than standing up for the important institution that is Australian citizenship.

As to the former Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the member for Watson, I was quite bemused by his contribution. I will take a moment to reflect on his contribution when he was immigration minister, presiding over the arrival of 83 boats, some 6,634 illegal maritime arrivals. That was his contribution to immigration: an immigration system that was out of control. This government fixed that. This government made sure that our borders are secure and continues to do so.

But it's important that Australians speak English. We had some promising signals sent by the member for Watson, but unfortunately that was when he was in opposition. When he was in opposition, he said, 'We need stricter English language requirements,' as reported in the Daily Telegraph on 12 September 2006. He also said, again in 2006:

Why is it that no one is asked on these forms to commit to respecting Australian values and abiding by Australian laws?

Yes, this was all from opposition. He went on, in terms of 'a declaration to respect our laws and way of life', to say:

Anyone who has a problem signing that shouldn't be allowed here.

Mr McCormack interjecting—

Yes. It's quite interesting to hear what the member for Watson said in opposition, as opposed to his pontification this morning in this very place. Then he said in response to Prime Minister Howard's focus on the importance of English, 'His focus on the need for people living in Australia to try and learn English was'—and I quote the member for Watson—'spot-on.' 'Spot-on,' he said of Prime Minister Howard's requirements. But what happened when he left the halls of opposition and went into government? He was far less supportive.

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