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Interference in citizenship poll: Hanson

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says foreigners have interfered in a parliamentary committee poll on migrants and citizenship.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson claims foreigners have interfered in a parliamentary committee citizenship poll. (AAP)

A parliamentary committee poll canvassing tougher entry standards for would-be citizens has been "hijacked" by foreigners, Pauline Hanson claims.

The One Nation leader wants the results of the Survey Monkey poll, asking individuals if they supported changes to citizenship laws, disregarded because non-citizens have been able to vote.

But it's understood Senator Hanson agreed to survey people online as an alternative to more formal submissions and endorsed the wording of the poll's single question.

It asks whether individuals support changes to citizenship legislation put forward by Senator Hanson, including requiring migrants to be a resident for eight years to be eligible for citizenship, as well as a tougher English test.

"I'm sorry to say that survey has been hijacked by foreign interference into Australia's democratic process," she said in Brisbane on Friday.

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"For the past number of weeks social media pages from across the globe ... actively encouraged foreign nationals to vote 'no' to supporting citizenship changes in Australia."

Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald, who chairs the committee that ordered the survey, told AAP the results wouldn't be disregarded.

"The committee is made up of experienced senators who understand campaigns and accordingly will give the results any weight that they think that those sort of results deserve," he said.

In a letter addressing Senator Hanson's concerns, he reminded her submissions on similar government legislation in the past received a predominantly negative response, but were supported by the committee in any case.

The survey closes on Friday.

Meanwhile, Senator Hanson wants to speak to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about holding a plebiscite at the next election.

Voters would be asked they supported making migrants wait eight years for citizenship eligibility, if migrants should be required to speak English and if Australia's immigration intake should be cut to 75,000-100,000 a year.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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