Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

With regard to the question from Senator Bartlett, this provision was, I understand, actually carried over. For clarity, I will read into the Hansard section 13, part 4(b)(v) of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948:

... if the Minister considers that an applicant who is a permanent resident was, by reason of an administrative error, not a permanent resident during a period during which the person was present in Australia—treat the period as a period during which the applicant was present in Australia as a permanent resident.

That provision, of course, is as it applies to lawfulness. The notion that an unlawful noncitizen was at any time—in fact, I will sit down before I get myself into more strife. I hope that answers your question.

Question negatived.