Coalition pledges immigration overhaul
If elected to government, a specific section on antisemitism will be part of citizenship test, says shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan.
The Liberal-National Coalition will introduce a specific section on antisemitism to the Australian citizenship test and establish a dedicated antisemitism task force if elected to government.
This was announced by shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan, who was speaking at an Australian Jewish Association (AJA) online forum.
He said the opposition has comprehensive plans to address rising antisemitism, particularly through immigration and citizenship reforms.
“We will place a specific section within the Australian citizenship test which will deal with antisemitism, and we will have an educational module which will deal with antisemitism,” Mr Tehan said.
“If you become, or want to become, a citizen of this nation, then you will have a specific section that you will need to undertake with regards to antisemitism.”
The proposed antisemitism task force would be led by the Australian Federal Police and incorporate ASIO, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC, Australian Border Force and state police.
Mr Tehan told the event that the task force will have powers to refer visa holders involved in antisemitic acts for immediate cancellation and deportation.
“If necessary, we will amend the section 501 character provisions of the Migration Act to ensure this antisemitic conduct is captured by the law and applies retrospectively for all acts of hatred towards the Jewish community since the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks,” he said.
The Coalition’s plan includes issuing a new ministerial direction to the AFP to prioritise addressing antisemitism, including unsolved crimes such as doxing, display of terrorist symbols, incitement and harassment.
Mr Tehan also confirmed that dual citizens who support proscribed terrorist organisations could face having their Australian citizenship revoked.
“For dual citizens… we should be looking at taking very, very serious steps,” he said, acknowledging that a court decision approximately 12 months ago has complicated the government’s ability to strip citizenship.
“We need to look strongly at that court judgment, and we need to find ways whereby the government can legislate so that we can look seriously at, once again, being able to use the threat of stripping their citizenship away from dual citizens who undertake this type of behaviour.”
The Coalition has previously announced it would establish a judicial inquiry into campus antisemitism and deliver $32.5 million in security funding for the Jewish community.
Mr Tehan expressed concern about the government’s decision to rapidly admit 3,000 people from Gaza on visitor visas.
He said a Coalition government would “immediately seek to have the security checks that were undertaken examined”, noting approximately 70 percent of the Gazans have subsequently claimed asylum.
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