Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has ramped up pressure on Labor to support the Government's sweeping changes to citizenship laws which aim to prioritise "Australian values".
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the changes in April, declaring that migrants must prove their commitment to the nation with a tough new citizenship test and more stringent English language test.
There have been differing views on the proposal within the Labor caucus and Mr Dutton took up the issue in Question Time on Tuesday.
"What has become evident over course of the last five weeks is that on a fundamental issue you would have thought the Labor Party could unite, but they haven't," he said.
"And Mr Speaker what is evident is that, just as on their boats policy, we've seen on this policy the left and the right are completely divided.
"[Bill Shorten] needs to state his position, Mr Speaker. Is he in favour of the citizenship changes? Or is he not?"
Lateline understands the policy was informed in part by confidential National Security Commission documents, obtained by the program last year.
The documents urged stronger controls over access to citizenship, pointing to Lebanese migrant enclaves to illustrate potential community safety and national security risks associated with unsuccessful integration.
FOR FULL STORY PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/citizenship-dutton-ups-pressure-on-labor/8572888
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the changes in April, declaring that migrants must prove their commitment to the nation with a tough new citizenship test and more stringent English language test.
There have been differing views on the proposal within the Labor caucus and Mr Dutton took up the issue in Question Time on Tuesday.
"What has become evident over course of the last five weeks is that on a fundamental issue you would have thought the Labor Party could unite, but they haven't," he said.
"And Mr Speaker what is evident is that, just as on their boats policy, we've seen on this policy the left and the right are completely divided.
"[Bill Shorten] needs to state his position, Mr Speaker. Is he in favour of the citizenship changes? Or is he not?"
Lateline understands the policy was informed in part by confidential National Security Commission documents, obtained by the program last year.
The documents urged stronger controls over access to citizenship, pointing to Lebanese migrant enclaves to illustrate potential community safety and national security risks associated with unsuccessful integration.
FOR FULL STORY PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/citizenship-dutton-ups-pressure-on-labor/8572888
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