House debates
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Questions without Notice
National Security: Citizenship
2:52 pm
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source
I cannot speak for what has happened to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor or the former monitor's position since he prepared his last report to the government, but last March when he presented a report to the government he recommended:
Consideration should be given to the introduction of a power for the Minister of Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians … where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia's security.
The former monitor is entitled to change his mind and obviously he has changed his mind, but back in March last year, when he made a recommendation to the government, the recommendation was 'a power for the Minister of Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians … where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia's security'. There was no mention of conviction—no mention of conviction but revocation 'where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia's security'.
I know it is news to members opposite but terrorism is prejudicial to Australia's security and where people have engaged terrorist activities, their citizenship should be stripped when they are dual nationals.
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