Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Democrat amendment (4) goes to paragraphs (e) and (f) of the general eligibility for applying for citizenship. Before formally moving it, I might ask a couple of questions in regard to this. Basically we put it down as a protective amendment prior to Senate estimates—uncertain of how the government’s new citizenship test announced at the end of last year under the former parliamentary secretary, Mr Robb, would be implemented. It was made clear at Senate estimates that to implement this new test will require legislative change which, from the timetable put forward in estimates by the government or by the department, was to be put before the parliament this year some time prior to the election. I want to clarify in that case how, in the interim, the government or the department will be planning to assess these parts of the general eligibility requirements under the new Australian Citizenship Act, which is before us today. The parts that my foreshadowed amendment go to detail an eligibility requirement for a person to become an Australian citizen if the minister is satisfied that the person:

(e) possesses a basic knowledge of the English language at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application; and (f) has an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application.

I know we already have in place the basic English language test and that this could be seen as just a continuation of that but, given the change in the government’s policy to implement a specific test regarding knowledge of Australia, Australian society and perhaps the ubiquitous Australian values, I wanted to get an indication of whether there will be any change in the way these parts of the eligibility requirements will be assessed between now and when the legislative changes that have been foreshadowed in Senate estimates come into being.

I understand, again from what was said at Senate estimates, that there will not be a separate English language test under the new regime the government is proposing—that the test of someone’s basic knowledge will be part and parcel of the computer based multiple choice test of knowledge of Australia that is still being developed. As I understand it—and I am happy to be corrected on any of the things I am saying here when the minister responds—that is different from how things are now, which is that the level of basic knowledge is assessed via the general standard interview that is done with the department and delegate of the minister.

I really want to ascertain whether these provisions in the new bill, parts (e) and (f), will be implemented differently in any way from what has applied to date, or whether it will just be business as usual up until any further legislative changes are brought in to implement a change in policy in regard to eligibility testing for acquiring Australian citizenship.