MYAN Australia - Response to the Australian Government Discussion Paper on Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship - June 2017

Sep 18, 2026

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Executive summary and recommendations from Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN Australia) addressing the Australian Government discussion paper on strengthening the test for Australian citizenship. The document argues proposed changes risk imposing additional demands on prospective citizens, reducing inclusion, and undermining equality, freedom, and fairness. It highlights concerns about introducing an English language test and extending permanent residency requirements retrospectively. MYAN calls for inclusive consultation, evidence-based decision-making, and clearer support measures for prospective citizens.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Recommendations

Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN Australia) Response to the Australian Government Discussion Paper on Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship June 2017 Executive Summary Citizenship is an important and integral part of the settlement journey. It is the culmination of what, for many, can be a very challenging transition to a new country. For a nation, citizenship is a mechanism for expressing national identity. This is achieved through the process of articulating what the agreed rights and responsibilities and shared norms and practices of the nation are. Identity is then reaffirmed through the practical process of awarding or denying citizenship to outsiders based on these agreed terms of membership. As both a symbolic and a practical tool, citizenship thus works to shape identities and belonging. As a nation built on immigration that is fortunate to continue to benefit from the diversity of its people, social cohesion and inclusion remain core aims of Australian citizenship. However, for trust and confidence in citizenship as the means for reaffirming our identity as a cohesive, multicultural nation, the system for conferring citizenship itself must directly be seen to be working to achieve these objectives and to reflect the values it espouses, including equality, freedom, and fairness. Some of the proposed changes to the Australian citizenship test have the potential to make demands of prospective citizens that are not required of current citizens or those conferred citizenship by birth. To MYAN, this seems both unreasonable and at odds with the very values of equality, freedom, and fairness the test aims to reaffirm. Elements of the proposed changes also have the potential to exclude some aspiring citizens. Of particular concern to the young people and workers, we spoke to were the proposal to introduce an English language test and to extend the permanent residency requirement retrospectively. Such changes have the potential to undermine a sense of belonging and connectedness to Australia for some members of our community and their families. Exclusion from citizenship could also result in greater disadvantage for some members by limiting their full and equal participation in the economic, social and cultural life of the nation. We know that experiences of socio-economic disadvantage and marginalisation can deepen inequality and lead to unequal life chances. Over time this can place pressure on social cohesion and has the very real potential to weaken security and stability rather than strengthening it. Inclusive community consultation and input on the proposed changes to the Australian citizenship test are required, before their implementation, to determine whether these changes are reasonable and appropriate. Consultation would ensure potential unintended consequences, such as increased disadvantage or insecurity, are identified and avoided. Consultations would also allow the Government to present the evidence on the necessity of these changes for ensuring the test meets legislative requirements for citizenship and to demonstrate how the changes would meet the stated aims. MYAN also believe that in promoting changes to citizenship the Government has a responsibility to ensure that they are encouraging a national narrative that promotes multiculturalism and the strength of our diversity. This includes a responsibility to ensure that public debate and policy discourse does not send a message that undermines the significant and valuable contributions made by the newest members of the Australian nation. Recommendations 1. That no criteria for citizenship be above or beyond requirements placed on any existing citizen or those conferred citizenship by birth. 2. That national conversations about settlement, citizenship and multiculturalism are always conducted in respectful and constructive ways, are evidence-based and include the voices of young people. 3. That before implementin

FAQs

What is MYAN Australia’s main concern about strengthening the Australian citizenship test?

MYAN Australia argues that proposed changes may impose unreasonable additional requirements on prospective citizens, conflicting with equality, freedom, and fairness and potentially undermining belonging and inclusion.

Which two proposed changes does MYAN highlight as especially concerning?

MYAN is particularly concerned about introducing an English language test and extending the permanent residency requirement retrospectively, which could exclude some aspiring citizens and their families.

What does MYAN ask the Government to do before implementing changes?

MYAN calls for inclusive community consultation and demands evidence that proposed changes are reasonable and appropriate, including evidence for how residency extension and any English requirements would achieve the stated aims.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo