Turnbull to make Australian citizenship test tougher
Becoming an Australian citizen is about to get harder as the Prime Minister prepares to announce tougher citizenship requirements, following his 457 visa shake-up.
The abolition of the 457 visa was part one of Malcolm Turnbull’s immigration crackdown.
On Tuesday he reiterated his "Australia first" stance, putting the country's national interest as a top priority.
Seven News understands the changes will include an increased one-year permanent residency period before potential citizens are able to apply for citizenship.
''Citizenship must be valued and we're making changes so that the practices and principles of those obtaining citizenship are consistent with our cultural values,” Prime Minister Turnbull said Wednesday.
The 457 changes have already received a welcome reception from the business community.
It now means employers taking on foreign workers under the stricter regime will have to pay into a skills fund.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Bill Shorten insists “the government isn’t doing a crackdown, it's doing a con job".
Labor claim that the changes will affect just nine per cent of the 95,000 457 visa holders.
"The deals he's doing with other countries, will mean it'll be actually easier to bring in other workers from overseas," Shadow Trade Minister Jason Clare said.
