Dutton defends citizenship proposal

The government has confirmed Australian terror suspects could have their citizenships revoked immediately under a new proposal but says it’s still seeking community consultation.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

Government plans to strip terror suspects of citizenship have sparked debate within parliament. (AAP) Source: EPA

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says the stripping of any Australian terror suspect of their citizenship could happen immediately if enough evidence is gathered to call for it.

Pointing to a similar model in effect in the United Kingdom, the minister said those affected would be deported from Australia to another country where they also had citizenship.

"That’s the way in which it’s operated in 27 cases in the UK since 2006," Mr Dutton said.

The proposal has been criticised by fellow cabinet ministers but Mr Dutton said it would be used "sparingly".

“In the end it’s judicially reviewable and I think that’s the important part of the process,” he said.

The exact detail of any judicial review was expected to be announced in the legislation but Mr Dutton said people could use Australia’s legal system if they wanted to appeal the decision.

“The government has the absolute desire to make sure that we don’t render people stateless,” he said.

The Opposition hasn't opposed the proposal but will wait until it sees the legislation.

“For Labor we will wait till we see the legislation. We will always been open to sensible suggestions which deal with the new and metastasising forms of terrorism in the world,” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said this morning.

Community feedback on the idea was being sought with people able to lodge on the citizenship website.


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