Department defends delays in processing citizenship for refugees

The new Department of Home Affairs has been put on notice to improve its citizenship processes following hundreds of complaints to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about delays. It denies there's a backlog despite a sharp rise of more than 400 per cent in the number of people left waiting more than two years for the outcome of their application.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull poses with new Australian citizens at an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Flag Raising event in Canberra, January 26. Source: AAP