Shorten quells brewing row over changes to Australian citizenship test

EXCLUSIVE: LABOR is split on whether to back the Turnbull government’s tough new citizenship test, as Bill Shorten faces a backlash over his support.

New Australian citizen Nibu Baby with his certificate. Picture: Emma Murray

• L-PLATES ARE OFF FOR THE AUSSIE CITIZENSHIP TEST
• PM SAYS TEST CITIZENSHIP PROTECTS AUSSIE VALUES

LABOR is split on whether to back the Turnbull government’s tough new citizenship test, as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten faces a backlash over his support for the changes.

Several Labor MPs are uncomfortable about changes that would add “Australian values” questions to the citizenship test, despite both Mr Shorten and Anthony Albanese trying to minimise the electoral impact of the reforms.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Labor senator Lisa Singh said the stricter test would “make it more difficult for people with a genuine commitment to Australian values to get citizenship”.

New Australian citizen Nibu Baby with his certificate. Picture: Emma Murray

“These changes don’t help to make Australia safer, and they undermine the values of tolerance, inclusion and a fair go for all which makes our nation great,” Ms Singh wrote.

Her comments represent the greatest intervention in an issue that Labor would rather minimise. It is understood several other Labor MPs are united behind a rejection of the Turnbull government’s policy.

While the legislation has not been provided to Labor, and no decision has been confirmed, most frontbenchers do not think a confrontation over citizenship issues is productive.

Labor’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers last month said the proposed changes had the capacity to “strengthen the community and end division”.

“(The community) want to know this isn’t just another effort to cuddle up to Pauline Hanson or to keep Peter Dutton at bay,” he said. It’s understood, however, that Labor’s Left is willing to back Mr Turnbull’s citizenship changes because it is concerned the discussion will turn into an electoral issue.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Dutton announced in April sweeping changes to the citizenship test designed to weed out terrorists, wife-beaters and criminals.

Senator Lisa Singh says the changes undermine values of inclusion. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

There will also be strict new language requirements, including reading, writing and listening tests, and it is expected to focus heavily on respect for women and children with questions about child marriage and female genital mutilation.

But without Labor’s support, the government will need One Nation and several other independent senators to pass many of their proposed changes.

Senator Singh told The Daily Telegraph that Labor was “still carefully considering these changes and talking to real people — like the many who have contacted my office — about their impacts”.

Mr Shorten last month said ­it was “reasonable” to look for English language proficiency and for a longer period of time before offering Australian citizenship.