4 years ago
CITIZENSHIP REVOCATION LAWS BEING FIXED AFTER YEARS OF DELAY
SENATOR KRISTINA KENEALLY
After years of delay, Labor welcomes steps to fix significant problems in Australia’s citizenship loss provisions, to strengthen our national security, and protect the Australian community from terrorism.
The citizenship loss provisions, introduced in 2015 with Labor’s support, were always intended to be part of a suite of measures that work to protect Australia and Australians from terrorism but, regrettably, key issues in their operation have not been dealt with by the Morrison Government.
Under the current legislation there may be cases where an individual’s Australian citizenship has ceased under the law, but the Commonwealth Government may not be aware that this has occurred.
ASIO has also made clear that, because of the automatic way in which the existing provisions operate, citizenship cancellation may lead to unintended or unforeseen adverse security outcomes, including exacerbating potential security threats.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has recommended that the automatic citizenship loss provisions, which currently operate in an uncertain and uncontrolled manner, be replaced with a new ministerial decision-making model of citizenship cessation.
The progression of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Cessation) Bill is long overdue and the problems with the existing laws are far too serious to leave on the backburner like the Minister for Home Affairs has for too long. Labor, along with the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), has called for these changes to be made.
Labor remains concerned a number of the INSLM’s key recommendations have not been adopted by the Government but we will not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.
Labor supports appropriate measures – such as citizenship loss because of terrorist conduct – to keep Australia and Australians safe.
Citizenship cessation is just one of the many mechanisms the Government has at its disposal to keep Australians safe, but it should never be viewed as the only tool in the toolbox.
Labor calls on the Government to implement the recommendations of the PJCIS and to work with us in progressing the legislation through the Parliament as a matter of urgency.
The citizenship loss provisions, introduced in 2015 with Labor’s support, were always intended to be part of a suite of measures that work to protect Australia and Australians from terrorism but, regrettably, key issues in their operation have not been dealt with by the Morrison Government.
Under the current legislation there may be cases where an individual’s Australian citizenship has ceased under the law, but the Commonwealth Government may not be aware that this has occurred.
ASIO has also made clear that, because of the automatic way in which the existing provisions operate, citizenship cancellation may lead to unintended or unforeseen adverse security outcomes, including exacerbating potential security threats.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has recommended that the automatic citizenship loss provisions, which currently operate in an uncertain and uncontrolled manner, be replaced with a new ministerial decision-making model of citizenship cessation.
The progression of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Cessation) Bill is long overdue and the problems with the existing laws are far too serious to leave on the backburner like the Minister for Home Affairs has for too long. Labor, along with the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), has called for these changes to be made.
Labor remains concerned a number of the INSLM’s key recommendations have not been adopted by the Government but we will not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.
Labor supports appropriate measures – such as citizenship loss because of terrorist conduct – to keep Australia and Australians safe.
Citizenship cessation is just one of the many mechanisms the Government has at its disposal to keep Australians safe, but it should never be viewed as the only tool in the toolbox.
Labor calls on the Government to implement the recommendations of the PJCIS and to work with us in progressing the legislation through the Parliament as a matter of urgency.