Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I briefly indicate the Democrats’ willingness to support this. I think that it would at least provide some mechanism for review. As I have said in some of my previous contributions, obviously the test itself and how it operates is at the heart of the credibility of this whole process. I repeat my apprehension that there is potential for the credibility of Australian citizenship in general to be degraded if the test does not operate effectively and is seen to be problematic in some way or other. I am not convinced, and I still have not heard any evidence in this debate or elsewhere, as to why the test is even needed, but if we are going to have it then we should at least have more reliable mechanisms for ensuring that there is oversight and review. Assertions or pledges now from the minister—sincere though I am sure they are—are not sufficient to bind any future minister.