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The Hon Peter Dutton MP Minister for Immigration and Border Protection GPO Box 241 Melbourne VIC 3001 [email protected] Australian Multicultural Council Submission – 29 May 2017 The Australian Multicultural Council (the Council) is pleased to take this opportunity to provide some brief comments on the discussion paper Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship. The Council is a ministerially-appointed body which provides advice to the Australian Government on multicultural affairs policy and programs, with a particular focus on: • harnessing the economic and social benefits of Australia’s culturally diverse population • celebrating diversity, promoting social acceptance and fostering engagement with Australian values, identity and citizenship, within the framework of Australian law • building stronger and more cohesive communities and addressing barriers to participation, including racism and discrimination • promoting greater intercultural and interfaith understanding and dialogue, and • empowering civil society through partnerships with the business sector and harnessing the experience of established communities in developing the capacity of newer communities. Strengthening citizenship and integration requirements In relation to the Government's announcement of 20 April 2017, the Australian Multicultural Council is broadly supportive of the principle of strengthening citizenship requirements to improve Australia's social and economic outcomes and national security. It is important for Australia's long term social cohesion that aspiring citizens demonstrate their commitment to live in accordance with Australian values and a willingness to integrate into, and contribute to, the Australian community. Website: www.dss.gov.au/amc Email: [email protected] c/- Secretariat – Australian Multicultural Council, Multicultural and Communities Branch, Department of Social Services, Sirius Building, Worgan Street, PHILLIP ACT 2606 GPO Box 9820, CANBERRA ACT 2601. Council therefore supports strengthening the Australian values statement, consistent with the shared values and shared rights and responsibilities already articulated in the Australian Government's new multicultural statement Multicultural Australia: united, strong, successful. However, the development of clear guidelines around values, citizenship education and integration requirements will be essential. The OECD Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015 report showed that Australia has one of the highest rates of citizenship acquisition, with just over 80 per cent of eligible migrants becoming citizens. Citizenship has therefore always been a positive vehicle for inclusion. The Council is concerned that the new requirements, including increased costs, increased administrative burdens and longer timeframes, should not lead to reduced take-up rates for Australian citizenship. This would create a growing pool of long-term permanent residents and potentially undermine the high levels of social cohesion we currently enjoy. English language testing The Council notes that successful integration depends on the efforts of the Australian community and government, as much as the migrant. A two-way integration and mutual obligation approach requires that Government takes more responsibility to remove obstacles to integration, particularly as they relate to employment, English language acquisition and robust access and equity policies. The tougher English language requirements are likely to prove highly problematic for vulnerable sections of the migrant and refugee populations. It is worth noting that the IELTS Level 6 standard, or equivalent, which has been set as the required English language proficiency level, is considered by most universities as being acceptable for undergraduate study in English. It is also worth noting that many newspapers still aim only to publish in language that can be read by a twelve year old, for consumption by the general population. The proposed changes will make it much harder for people, particularly those who may have had a fragmented educational background, to become citizens. As it stands, the Government's Adult Migrant English Program, (AMEP) only helps new arrivals learn basic English skills, which are nonetheless currently deemed sufficient to assist them to successfully settle and confidently participate socially and economically in Australia. The timeframes associated with eligibility for, and completion of, the AMEP course also do not inevitably fit the needs of its clients, as newly arrived migrants are initially most concerned about employment, settlement, and education for their children as a priority rather than English language proficiency for themselves. To build English language skills to (the now requisite) university level will require a significantly greater investment, of both time and money, on the part of governments and migrants. The citizenship test Council remains unconvinced of the merits of a citizenship test to make a determination about a person's "understanding of and commitment to" shared values. A much truer test of a person's values lies in their actions, not in their ability to pass a multiple choice test, (which can be compromised by inadequate English language skills). Council supports the new requirement that an 2 applicant must demonstrate their integration into the community, provided sensible guidelines and supports are developed to ensure the new requirements are not onerous to the point of becoming a deterrent. Most applicants for citizenship, including refugees, would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to Australia. Council would also encourage the Government to consider how the existing Strong and Resilient Communities and Volunteer grants programs could be leveraged to support mainstream volunteer organisations to extend their reach into new and emerging migrant communities to ensure their volunteer workforces reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. The Council also notes that successful integration depends on the efforts of the Australian community and government, as much as the migrant. A welcoming community that respects diversity and provides equal opportunities for all enhances the sense of belonging that migrants feel and their ability to participate. Part of any integration policy should be a reinvigorated approach to the Government's implementation of the multicultural access and equity policy which provides a framework through which the Government can ensure that all Australians are provided equal opportunities – regardless of their cultural or linguistic background, or even year of arrival or date of citizenship acquisition. Under the policy, government departments and agencies are responsible for ensuring their programmes and services (including those relating to employment and education) are accessible to Australians of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Council recommends that the Government reinvigorate this policy, as a way of providing ongoing support to all Australians to integrate and demonstrating the Government's ongoing commitment to a fair Australia. Australia has always welcomed those who have travelled here to be a part of our wonderfully free and open society, to build better lives for themselves and their children and to contribute to this nation. It is important therefore that Australia, as a nation, not lose the opportunities that this openness allows, in its search to maintain national security. Yours sincerely Dr Sev Ozdowski AM FAICD Chair 29 May 2017 3