Migrants and their representative groups have fiercely opposed One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson’s proposal to make permanent residents .
Senator Hanson has brought a private member’s Bill in the Senate on Wednesday which also proposes to make evidence of competent English language proficiency a prerequisite for citizenship.
Atul Vidhata, a Fiji national, applied for his citizenship in December last year.
“Senator Hanson’s Bill is not only a harsher version of the Government’s failed Citizenship bill but has even less supporting evidence for the changes it suggests,” he says.
He says most migrants take between 6 and 13 years to be Australian citizens from the day they come to Australia.
Atul Vidhata has been in Australia since 2007 and became eligible for the Australian citizenship in December last year. Source: Supplied
“What would a further 8 as a permanent resident prove that that time could not?” Mr Vidhata questions.
Explaining the rationale behind her Bill, Senator Hanson said “once these people become citizens, we cannot get rid of them [if they are of bad character or criminals]."
Ms Hanson said the only difference between permanent residency and an Australian citizenship was of the voting right.
But Mr Vidhata, who has been campaigning against the proposed changes in citizenship law since the Federal Government announced them, says citizenship means migrants will no longer be subject to “retrospective or overnight laws”.
“Having citizenship allows Permanent Residents to make long-term plans for their lives without constant fear and consultation with the Immigration Department to see if it adversely affects their status or citizenship applications. I have been approached by those who have lost higher job opportunities, promotions or even the ability to travel for work or personal reasons because of not being citizens,” he says.
Saksham Katyal, an Indian national says citizenship is a way of self-expression for many migrants to formally take part in the government and nation building that PR doesn’t offer.
“What Australia is today is because of immigrants.
“If anyone has a doubt about the contributions migrants have made, they just need a lesion in history class,” Mr Katyal said.
The peak body representing Australia’s migrant communities, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) says it will oppose Ms Hanson’s proposal which is “unfair and unjust”.
Saksham Katyal Source: Facebook
“Any changes to Australia’s Citizenship laws should be based on evidence and not political considerations.
“Extended waiting times for citizenship offer no benefit to Australia other than to delay the citizenship of hard working dedicated Australian residents who want nothing more than to be full participants in our community,” FECCA Chairperson Mary Patetsos told SBS Punjabi.
FECCA had also opposed the government’s Bill last year which sought to increase the waiting time for citizenship to four years.
“Attempts to restrict pathways to citizenship are a threat to the social cohesion and harmony of Australian society, generate fear and uncertainty for migrants and their families, and counter their efforts to construct long-term, stable futures and to contribute back to Australian society," Ms Patetsos said.
Mr Vidhata says he is concerned about the government’s response to Senator Hanson’s bill and hopes it will be voted down for being both “worse and less supported” than what was proposed last year.
“While their [migrants’] character is in question, what happens next will confirm Australia’s character to those who are being prevented from pledging their allegiance,” he says.
SBS Punjabi has contacted Senator Pauline Hanson’s office for a response.
