Labor is all Geared up to Vote Against Citizenship Changes

The coalition government is facing severe resistance from federal opposition against the upcoming legislative amendments regarding Citizenship Law. These proposed changes will make it obligatory to have sufficient English proficiency requirement. Moreover, they will also enhance the overall time span to seek permanent residents. Both these requirements will be deemed necessary to obtain Australian citizenship.
Early this morning, a Labor faction gathered in Canberra and planned to vote against the Citizenship Law in its present structure.
These proposed changes are termed as a “massive overreach” by Tony Burke (Shadow Minister for Citizenship). Discussing the dark side of this new English requirement, he said that a majority of Australians residents are unable to attain the required level of English proficiency.
Mr. Burke further stated, “The challenge with the English language test, that they’ve set it so high, is just ludicrous and absurd, and dumb”.
He also shared his distress over the argument that these changes are necessary as a matter of “National Security”.
At the time when Citizenship Law changes were declared in April early this year, Labor party suggested that some of these changes are acceptable and they will talk about them. However, after some time the shadow cabinet came forward with a view to set aside these changes.
The increase in waiting time to four years from one year is specifically opposed by the opposition party. This amendment will affect the permanent residents while applying for the Australian citizenship. The second change regarding much harder English language test is not immune from the brunt opposition.

The individuals applying for the Australian citizenship must obtain IELTS Band 6. This requirement is a part of the proposed legislation introduced by the government in parliament’s lower house.
This hard to achieve language test requirement is also facing opposition by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). This council is the powerful body, which represents multicultural communities residing in Australia.
Pino Migliorino, an official of FECCA shared his thoughts in following words.

“Australia is a country of immigration and forever we’ve not only received people but allowed them to work and contribute regardless of their linguistic background. I know thousands and literally thousands of older Australians now who don’t speak English well who’ve made an enormous contribution,”.
The most destructive legislative amendment that is introduced in the Parliament is the power to set aside the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by the Immigration Minister. Such a Minister can overrule the grant of citizenship to a resident after being refused by the Immigration Department.
Similar authority is already granted to the Immigration Minister through which the designator can overrule specific decisions passed by the AAT. This power is granted with relation to visas and doesn’t affect the grant of citizenship. Another section of these proposed changes is also associated with the Australian values statement, which is necessary to be signed by the persons applying for the Australian citizenship.
After facing opposition from the Labor, the ruling party will have to avail 10 crossbench votes with a view to getting this bill passed through the Senate.