Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I thought it was worth making clear what the proposed amendment actually does. Whilst I am very happy for Senator Ludwig to make comments on my discussion here in the chamber, the amendment proposes to omit the clauses that the government is proposing to put into this legislation that give ASIO the power to veto somebody’s citizenship. So rather than our setting up a new system, which is perhaps what Senator Ludwig thought that I was proposing, the amendment actually removes the government’s proposal in this legislation to give ASIO the veto power. What we are proposing is that we operate under the system by which decisions are currently made, with advice from ASIO, but we are not supportive of giving ASIO the power to veto every individual citizenship application.