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Controversial Citizenship Bill fails to pass Senate
The controversial Australian citizenship bill, moved by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton failed to pass the Senate. Now major amendments will have to be brought to the bill before debates could be restarted on the bill. The minister could not present the bill for a debate in the Senate before the deadline, which was on October 18.
The bill had proposed increasing the waiting period for permanent residents to apply for Australian citizenship to four years. It had also proposed a tougher English test for the aspiring citizens, with a pass percentage of 75, which is equal to level six in IELTS.
But the immigration minister had later admitted that he would have to make significant changes in the English-language test part to make the bill pass in the Senate. The bill was introduced claiming that the changes would ensure that the new citizens are committed to the nation and its values and that they are capable of integrating well into a multicultural society like that of Australia.
