Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, that will be a matter for announcement by the minister responsible. As I recall from the estimates committee process, the senator was given very thorough answers to questions about what the government has in mind and where we are at with the process. Apart from that, we are opposed to the amendment because it quite clearly on the face of it removes the provision in the bill that refers to a knowledge of the English language. That is something that has been part of the citizenship process in Australia for some time and I think it would be very silly—and I think most Australians would regard it as silly—to remove it from the law.