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Australian Citizenship Overhaul Thwarted in Senate

by VOA News

   After a more stringent citizenship bill failed in the Senate Wednesday,
   the Australian government says it will lower its standard for English
   language skills in a trade-off for other, tougher citizenship
   legislation.

   Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton said on
   Thursday the government is willing to lower its competency requirement
   for English language skills to modest, a designation of basic
   communication skills with many mistakes.

   Language skills are not currently tested in the Australian citizenship
   process although some English is required.

   The opposition has said asking applicants to pass a language test had
   the potential to create an underclass of noncitizens.

   Earlier this year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced plans to
   abolish a temporary work visa program popular with foreigners and
   replace it with a new program requiring better English-language and job
   skills.

   Turnbull also announced plans to raise the bar for citizenship by
   lengthening the waiting period and adding a new "Australian values"
   test.

   Dutton said the government will work with opposition lawmakers to amend
   the bill, including changing the language requirements.

   But opposition leader Bill Shorten suggested the government abandon the
   bill.

   "If it's bad for the interests of ordinary people, we won't vote for
   it,'' Shorten said.