The controversial citizenship bill was struck down by the Senate in 2017. But will the amended bill pass in 2018?
On October 18th 2017, before the controversial citizenship bill was struck down, the Government proposed amendments to the Citizenship Bill.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s last-ditch effort to water down the English requirement from ‘competent’ to ‘modest’ and delay the implementation to July 2018 failed after the government missed the deadline in the Senate, thus striking off the bill by default.
The Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 saw staunch opposition from Labor, the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team.
However, Mr Dutton is determined to make those changes. A day after the bill was struck down; he said the government had not abandoned the bill.
Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Government hasn't abandoned the Citizenship changes bill. Source: AAP
Mr Dutton said he won’t abandon the changes to Australia’s citizenship laws.
"Our discussions with the independent senators will continue because we will not be distracted by a political stunt in the Senate between the Labor Party and the Greens," Mr Dutton had said.
"They (Labor) have been caught out dancing again intimately with the Greens and if they are putting their own political interests ahead of the national interest, they should be condemned for that."
Though a date has not been set for bringing the bill back to the Parliament, the Home Affairs website has shared the new requirements for citizenship which will come into effect from July 1st 2018, subject to the passage of legislation.
Source: AAP
