Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 16, 2006
Introduction: PM John Howard says prospective citizens will need a “reasonable level” of English to pass the test, which will also test their knowledge of Australian values, customs and history
Australia plans to tighten its immigration requirements by making would-be citizens pass a compulsory test assessing their English skills and knowledge of Australian history, Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday.
Specific details of the new requirements are expected to be released next week, but Howard said he believed most Australians would welcome the plan. The proposal is the latest development in a long-running debate about immigration in Australia, where more than 20% of the population was born over seas. It follows a crackdown on illegal immigrants and concerns that extremist Islamic views could be gaining a foothold in some ethnic communities.
Prospective citizens would need a “reasonable level” of English to pass the test, which will also test immigrants’ knowledge of Australian values, customs, laws and history, Howard said. It would also increase the waiting period for permanent residents wishing to become citizens from 3 years to 4.
He acknowledged that although even some Australian-born citizens might struggle with the test, it would not be too difficult for people who were “fair (serious) about becoming part of the community”
“Cultural diversity should never come at the expense of a clear, strong, compelling national identity,” he said. “I can’t understand how anyone would take exception to that.” Currently, would-be citizens are required only to memorise a list of about 10 rights and duties as Australian citizens, including their right to vote and their obligation to respect local laws.
Reaction to the plan was mixed among Australia’s ethnic organisations. “We don’t disagree that migrants should embrace Australian values, but values and beliefs cannot simply be instilled in to people by making them sit through an exam,” said Justin Li, the vice chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council of New South Wales state.
Some groups said it was important for all Australians to be able to speak some English, but many others said the language requirement would discriminate against migrants from non-English speaking countries, as well as people who had little education or were illiterate in their native tongues.
