Labor reignites attack on citizenship overhaul

Labor reignites attack on proposed citizenship overhaul, saying the changes were not recommended by AFP or ASIO.

Labor’s citizenship spokesman Tony Burke says the Immigration department has briefed him on the government’s proposed shake-up.

Labor has reignited its attack on the government’s proposed citizenship overhaul, saying the changes will create a permanent class of people who are prevented from becoming Australians for their entire working lives.

Speaking in the lower house, Opposition citizenship spokesman Tony Burke said the Immigration Department had briefed him on the shake-up and confirmed the government’s changes were not recommended by any security or intelligence agency — including the AFP and ASIO.

‘Was this a recommendation from ASIO? No,” Mr Burke said. “Was this a recommendation from the Australian Federal Police? No. Was this a recommendation from any of our defence or security agencies? No.”

Mr Burke said the changes had nothing to do with national security because those who wished to become citizens were already living in Australia.

He warned the government’s changes — which would toughen the English language test and increase the permanent residency requirement from one to four years — would sow division rather promote integration.

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“What’s in front of the parliament in this bill is a huge and fundamental change,” he said. “It can’t possibly be good for integration or for national security to have a permanent group of people for their whole working lives being told actively by the government that they don’t belong.”

Labor started an online petition against the government’s changes just over a month ago with Mr Burke today revealing that nearly 30,000 people had already signed up to oppose the shake-up.

“There is a huge community outcry,” he said.