-:Undertaker:-
21-04-2017, 04:03 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/20/malcolm-turnbull-to-add-hurdles-for-privilege-of-australian-citizenship
Australia to add hurdles for 'privilege' of Australian citizenship
Citizenship requirements include new English language test and asks migrants to demonstrate how they have integrated
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/79/b8/ab/79b8ab4573821bb328d085ba219c09eb.jpg
The bar for Australian citizenship will be dramatically raised by requiring migrants to pass a new English language test and to reside in Australia for four years as permanent residents, as part of sweeping changes announced by the Turnbull government.
The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says Australia’s citizenship test will also be revamped by purporting to assess “Australian values”, with migrants now expected to show steps they have taken to integrate into the community.
The changes, announced on Thursday, follow moves to tighten the regime for temporary skilled migration on Tuesday and were foreshadowed in a speech by Malcolm Turnbull promising to put “Australian values first”.
Under the changes, aspiring citizens will have to pass a standalone English test, involving reading, writing and listening, which Turnbull said would “ensure applicants speak competent English”.
Applicants will have to demonstrate an “understanding of and commitment to shared values” in the citizenship test, as well as “steps they have taken to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community”. That could include evidence of employment, membership of community organisations or enrolling their children in school.
The current requirement for applicants to live in Australia as a permanent resident for one year will be raised to four years.
The replacement of the 457 visa system with new temporary skilled work visas has been accompanied by a significant reduction in the number of occupations that qualify for a four-year visa.
http://www.ozchinese.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1-27.jpg
The Immigration Miniter noted on Tuesday that workers on two-year temporary skilled work visas are not able to apply for permanent residency, in effect closing off a pathway to citizenship.
Citizenship applicants will only be allowed to sit the citizenship test three times, compared with the status quo in which there is no limit, and will automatically fail if they cheat the test.
“Membership of the Australian family is a privilege and should be afforded to those who support our values, respect our laws and want to work hard by integrating and contributing to an even better Australia,” Turnbull said. “We must ensure that our citizenship program is conducted in our national interest.”
In November a leaked government document revealed a plan to create the new visa class with less access to social services. It showed the Department of Social Services was concerned the plan would undermine the resettlement of refugees, reduce social cohesion and increase the risk of violent extremism.
Well done Australia. Britain will be following shortly once we've left the EU.
In effect these changes make it harder for third worlders, often uneducated, to gain access to Australia - without the controversy that an outright quota would mean with screeches of racism from the usual lot. It's clever. British, Canadians, New Zealanders, white South Africans and anyone who is of value to Australia will have no problem passing these tests but the guy who arrived on a boat from Africa will. Perfect.
Thoughts?
Australia to add hurdles for 'privilege' of Australian citizenship
Citizenship requirements include new English language test and asks migrants to demonstrate how they have integrated
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/79/b8/ab/79b8ab4573821bb328d085ba219c09eb.jpg
The bar for Australian citizenship will be dramatically raised by requiring migrants to pass a new English language test and to reside in Australia for four years as permanent residents, as part of sweeping changes announced by the Turnbull government.
The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says Australia’s citizenship test will also be revamped by purporting to assess “Australian values”, with migrants now expected to show steps they have taken to integrate into the community.
The changes, announced on Thursday, follow moves to tighten the regime for temporary skilled migration on Tuesday and were foreshadowed in a speech by Malcolm Turnbull promising to put “Australian values first”.
Under the changes, aspiring citizens will have to pass a standalone English test, involving reading, writing and listening, which Turnbull said would “ensure applicants speak competent English”.
Applicants will have to demonstrate an “understanding of and commitment to shared values” in the citizenship test, as well as “steps they have taken to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community”. That could include evidence of employment, membership of community organisations or enrolling their children in school.
The current requirement for applicants to live in Australia as a permanent resident for one year will be raised to four years.
The replacement of the 457 visa system with new temporary skilled work visas has been accompanied by a significant reduction in the number of occupations that qualify for a four-year visa.
http://www.ozchinese.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1-27.jpg
The Immigration Miniter noted on Tuesday that workers on two-year temporary skilled work visas are not able to apply for permanent residency, in effect closing off a pathway to citizenship.
Citizenship applicants will only be allowed to sit the citizenship test three times, compared with the status quo in which there is no limit, and will automatically fail if they cheat the test.
“Membership of the Australian family is a privilege and should be afforded to those who support our values, respect our laws and want to work hard by integrating and contributing to an even better Australia,” Turnbull said. “We must ensure that our citizenship program is conducted in our national interest.”
In November a leaked government document revealed a plan to create the new visa class with less access to social services. It showed the Department of Social Services was concerned the plan would undermine the resettlement of refugees, reduce social cohesion and increase the risk of violent extremism.
Well done Australia. Britain will be following shortly once we've left the EU.
In effect these changes make it harder for third worlders, often uneducated, to gain access to Australia - without the controversy that an outright quota would mean with screeches of racism from the usual lot. It's clever. British, Canadians, New Zealanders, white South Africans and anyone who is of value to Australia will have no problem passing these tests but the guy who arrived on a boat from Africa will. Perfect.
Thoughts?