Disadvantaged migrants applying for Australian citizenship will be spared from paying 10 times the fees they used to after the Senate sunk the government's attempt to scrap concession rates.
A Greens disallowance motion succeeded on Monday night, meaning migrant pensioners, veterans, widows and other welfare recipients will still be able to pay $20 or $40 to apply for citizenship.
Earlier in the month, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton removed the regulation offering discounted fees, meaning all applicants would be slugged with the standard $285 charge.
Greens Senator Nick McKim said restoring concession rates was a win for multicultural Australia and people doing it tough.
"Dutton has a track record of making it as hard as he can for people to become citizens - and the Greens are proud to lead the charge against him in parliament," Senator McKim said.
The government insists the ballooning cost of running the citizenship program was behind scrapping the concession rates, which three per cent of applicants were eligible for in the past year.
Liberal frontbencher Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, whose parents migrated to Australia from Italy, said the costs were significantly lower than in similar countries.
She said the UK charged $1195 to apply, the US $940, while Canada and New Zealand charged more than $400 to lodge a citizenship claim.
But Senator McKim said there were thousands of pensioners, veterans and health care card holders who would be able to apply for citizenship without an unfair barrier.
The disallowance passed the upper house 31 votes to 30, scuttling the rule change which was set to take effect on Sunday.
Labor supported the motion, with Senator Carol Brown labelling removing the concession rate as unfair and mean-spirited.
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