HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - The Southern Cross Group

Tuesday, 31 October 2006 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 101
I am pleased that the matters relating to the Maltese community et al will be fixed up. I hope that the government
will look at those matters highlighted in part 3 of our second reading amendment, which go to discrimination
against some of the children of these people. That is an anomaly that I am sure the government did not intend and
will fix it. However, if we are going to have a debate about citizenship, let us not in some way demonise the acts
of migrants. Regrettably that is one connotation you could take on the purpose of this piece of legislation, proposed
to be amended in the consideration in detail stage.
Mrs GASH (Gilmore) (6.27 pm)—In rising to speak to the Australian Citizenship Bill 2005 and the Australian
Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Bill 2005 I am reminded of the words of Theodore Roosevelt, the
26th President of the United States, who said:
The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he should be able and willing to pull his weight.
The telling point of Roosevelt’s observation is that conferring citizenship on someone carries with it not only access
to its benefits but also mutual obligations on the part of the individual. It seems to me that the notion of citizenship
has had its meaning and purpose diluted over many years, and its benefits have come to be regarded as
some sort of right rather than a privilege.
Citizenship has become a watered down, bureaucratic tool rather than an acceptance of a set of values that one
embraces meaningfully and spiritually—in other words, to someone who comes to this country wanting the benefits
Australia offers without any sense of contributing or committing to the very ideals that obviously drew them
here, citizenship is just a boring ritual. We do not deserve this type of pseudocitizen. As a ‘new Australian’ myself,
I feel I am sufficiently qualified to comment on aspects of this bill that deal with what it means to be a citizen of
Australia.
Australian citizenship is a serious matter and all citizens need to be aware of the enormous responsibility we
need to take to ensure that the spirit of this country remains positive, free thinking and tolerant. Australian citizenship
represents formal membership of the community of the Commonwealth of Australia. Australian citizenship is
a common bond, involving reciprocal rights and obligations uniting all Australians while respecting their diversity.
Australia is one of the few countries in the world where you can speak your mind. In fact, our system of government
actually encourages you to participate with your differing views.
We encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds into our midst through our immigration programs,
knowing that these new citizens will bring a welcome diversity of culture, skills, resources and knowledge. That
might be seen as a rather ideological, pie in the sky view, but I firmly believe that citizenship cannot be viewed as
simply a ritualistic ticket. It is far more than that and we are entitled, as citizens of Australia, to expect that those
coming here from other lands accept the values that we cherish beyond mere lip-service as a ticket to selfindulgence.
I came to Australia with my family from Holland at the age of seven, and we were afforded every opportunity
to grow. At that time we recognised that whilst we may have been given the opportunity, we were under no illusion
that from then on we only got back what we put in. And we were under no illusion that ‘when in Rome’, and
we adjusted accordingly to the Australian way of life, such as only speaking English in our home.
Even in those days there was a restriction when migrating to Australia in that a member of the family had to
speak English and the prospect of a job was to be proven. These days seem different and we are more tolerant of
persons who cling to the cultural habits of their old country. Perhaps we have gone too far. We need only scan the
media reports to detect that there is an increased degree of discomfort with people who now seem a little too different
to the rest of us. In fact, there are concerns expressed to me, from all walks of life, over the growing predisposition
from some sections of the community to gather in enclaves.
I am sure there is only a minority who choose to do that, but I would be sticking my head in the sand if I did not
recognise the very public demonstrations of anti-Australianism, particularly from sections of some Middle Eastern
communities. The aggression shown is clearly at odds with someone who has purported to have accepted the
value systems of their new nation. It is totally out of place and certainly un-Australian. It is almost like reverse
apartheid, yet we are asked to tolerate and accept behaviour which is hostile to our ideals. There is no doubt that
the process of obtaining Australian citizenship warrants a review, if for no other reason than the fact that the
community is beginning to question whether we were becoming perhaps a little too lax in our entry requirements.
As much as I would like to think that we are a very tolerant nation, that generally we have an enviable record of
assimilation of immigrants, I definitely resent being taken for a ride by someone who takes the oath of allegiance
and then goes on to attack his new country. This seems to be happening more and more. Citizenship is not something
that should be given away lightly. It is a thing to be cherished and savoured. There is a mutual obligation in
this process, and we need to ensure that those who say, ‘Let me stay,’ stay on our terms and not on those imposed
from afar. The preamble to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 contains the statement:
MAIN COMMITTEE