Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In this instance the matter was not central to the committee recommendations, although it was briefly discussed. The arguments that Senator Bartlett has put forward, although persuasive, are not persuasive enough for us to find favour with them. The Labor Party is not minded to support the amendment that the Australian Democrats propose in the form that they propose it.

I do understand the point that Senator Bartlett has made. I think that decision makers do have to reflect on all the criteria, but in this instance—applying for Australian citizenship—when children are applying in their own right, or when they are included in their parents’ citizenship application, under the existing law they are not required to be a permanent resident or satisfy the usual residency requirements. So there are considerations already taken into account when children apply for Australian citizenship. Of course, in some cases, to meet the residency requirements it is possible to include periods spent outside Australia while the person is on a permanent visa. There are matters that I think have to be further considered when looking at the amendment that you have proposed to see how it also interacts with other rights. In short, without going into great detail, before that matter would find favour we would want more information and perhaps a further look at it through a committee process. But, in the first instance, without having had the opportunity the Labor Party cannot support it.