Annette Hurley (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Is the minister aware of a story in today’s Daily Telegraph newspaper about the role of the United States Consul-General, Mr Steve Smith, at an Australian citizenship ceremony in Sydney? Can the minister confirm that the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code says:

Where the Minister is not able to attend, the Minister will nominate a representative. The Minister’s representative may be a Government member of the House of Representatives, a Government Senator, a senior DIMA officer or another person deemed appropriate by the Minister.

Can the minister confirm that, in the absence of the minister and the local MP, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, the formal speaking role was given to Mr Smith, who is not an Australian citizen? Can the minister clarify that she deemed Mr Smith to be an ‘appropriate’ representative, in accordance with the code?