Radical plan to covertly investigate potential migrants to weed out unworthy future Australian citizens
INTELLIGENCE analysts will covertly investigate potential migrants before they even get to our shores under a radical plan to ensure future citizens actually share Aussie values and aren’t just gaming the system while harbouring extremist views.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
INTELLIGENCE analysts will covertly investigate potential migrants before they even get to our shores under a radical plan to ensure future citizens actually share Aussie values and aren’t just gaming the system while harbouring extremist views.
The scheme being developed by the new Home Affairs Department will check how likely people are to integrate into our society and commit to Western beliefs of gender equality, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
The analysts will also investigate their likelihood of obeying the law, allegiance to Australia and if they would defend our country.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal there will now be three assessment points — when they apply for residency from their home country, when they are in Australia and again when they apply for citizenship.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo confirmed an intelligence assessment would be conducted on potential migrants under the plan.
“Prior to you even getting citizenship, before you even migrate, the government is looking at how do you make an assessment using intelligence, using all sources of information,” Mr Pezzullo said.
“How do you make an assessment about a person and their ability to conform with and live by Australian values, which will be defined in the legislation.”
MORE
MICHAEL PEZZULLO INTERVIEW: THE TERROR THREATS FACING AUSTRALIA
SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE RECRUITMENT DRIVE
DISTANCE EDUCATION FOR EXTREMIST, VIOLENT STUDENTS
Mr Pezzullo said the new assessment, which is not yet law and is still being considered by the government, will ensure people were not simply faking the answers to the New Australian citizenship test.
While it applies to every hopeful migrant, it will also stop radical extremists slipping into Australia.
“(Citizenship) can’t simply be a test. You also have to link other data sources in to look at lived behaviour and experience,” Mr Pezzullo said.
“There will be three assessment points; before they get here, while they are here and then when they apply for citizenship.”
The proposal is not aimed at excluding any community or ethnic groups from becoming Australians, he said, noting this concern had emerged during an early round of public consultation.
“Some of the responses have been look this is really just a surreptitious way to kind of exclude non-Anglo people or non-white people.
“It’s not. It is genuinely saying the Australian values framework, which will be embedded in law,” Mr Pezzullo said.
Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Alan Tudge said the key to successful multiculturalism was people integrating and embracing Australian values.
“Our ambition therefore is to move to ongoing assessment before a person becomes a citizen, rather than point-in-time assessment,” he said. “We want to strengthen the English language requirements and have clear demonstrations that people have made an effort to adopt Australian values and integrate into the community.”
Mr Tudge said already people who come into Australia are security checked.
“However, we need to be constantly vigilant,” he said.
“For example, if someone refuses to stand for a judge in a courthouse, then they clearly have little respect for our institutions.”
Currently, Australian citizens have an obligation to obey the law, defend Australia should the need arise and vote in elections. Core values include respect for the freedom of the individual and freedom of speech and religion.