Peter Dutton’s sly wedge on citizenship may yet backfire on him

Dutton knew Labor hands could never be raised in support. Picture: AAP

Peter Dutton really has produced the classic wedge for Labor with his plans to legislate for tougher rules on people applying for Australian citizenship. Given that almost half the Labor caucus has serious doubts about supporting tough legislation on refugees and turning back the boats, Dutton hopes to push Labor into opposing his bill. He believes that course of action would prove to be very, very unpopular.

Labor, however, is not so sure he is right. Bill Shorten and his shadow cabinet are carefully considering their options — they believe they have some — and are far from panicking about Dutton’s attempts to force them into a political wasteland.

Of course, the government has buried some landmines within its proposal that it knows Labor cannot support. For instance, the government is now seeking to apply the same English test for all applicants for citizenship that it now uses for those seeking entry to Australian universities.

The manifest unfairness, if Labor is correct in its claims about the test, is pretty obvious and Dutton knew Labor hands could never be raised in support.

Furthermore, those people already in the system seeking citizenship began with the assumption they had to reside here for a year so they could qualify. This new proposal seeks to lift this from one year to three years and apply it to those already in the queue.

Dutton knew Labor would never support this either.

The legislation was designed to ensure Labor could not support it. Whether this ensures that Labor takes a hit in the polls is another point entirely.

One of the most difficult jobs a Labor leader has is managing the caucus. In a predicament like this one, asking the left to take a harder line than they have been forced to cop so far may be the last straw. Over the past week or so there has been considerable debate within the leadership group about whether it would be better to try to amend Dutton’s bill or to oppose it in its entirety and make a virtue of that. Those supporting the latter option are gaining strength, and part of the reason why is caucus management. The left would not only be happy with this outcome, they would support it enthusiastically. A major internal split could be avoided and Shorten’s path to The Lodge could continue uninterrupted and apace.

The contrast between the open warfare in the Liberals and the relative peace that has broken out within Labor ranks could not be more stark. The Finkel report was always going to cause the mini-rebellion in evidence last week and still very much alive today.

While it got off to a slow start, the Catholic education lobby is in full swing and kicking goals over Simon Birmingham’s proposed schools reforms. One Liberal senator is threatening to cross the floor and more and more Liberals and Nationals are raising discordant voices.

On the Coalition side, all you see is turmoil; Labor, somewhat contrary to its factional history, remains smooth and stable.