A blitz of citizenship ceremonies personally ordered by Immigration Minister Tony Burke was needed to clear a “huge backlog”, the minister has said, pushing back on claims of political interference raised by the Coalition.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said there were “reasonable questions for the government to answer” after two Western Sydney mayors complained to the Daily Telegraph that Mr Burke had personally attended extra ceremonies in their local areas, which they suggested had a political motive given the new citizens would be eligible to vote in key seats Labor is defending at the upcoming federal election.
“Why would you expressly push people through the process to receive citizenship in advance of an election which is pending?” Mr Dutton asked on Thursday.
In a statement, Mr Burke said it was “outrageous to suggest that people who have been fully processed and passed every check under law should be prevented from making their pledge of lifelong commitment to our country.”
A spokesperson for the minister confirmed he had intervened to hold extra ceremonies, but said nobody had been fast-tracked and that the blitz was taking place in every major city and regional centre, not just Western Sydney.
“Our government believes anyone who has satisfied all the requirements should make their pledge of commitment as soon as possible.”
In a Sky News interview, Mr Burke said the Coalition criticism was “weird”.
“What we had was a huge backlog… of people who were entitled to have these citizenship ceremonies and different councils weren’t having enough ceremonies,” he said.
“I just say to the people who are complaining, have a bit of patriotism about this. People standing up and saying, I want to make a lifelong pledge of commitment to Australia is a good thing.”
Liberal Deputy Sussan Ley said on Friday the number of citizenship ceremonies was “incredible” and the concerns raised by mayors were “valid”.
“12,500 ceremonies? Some of these certificates are being handed out personally by Tony Burke, the minister, in his own seat. I really hope he’s not using public funds to benefit himself politically over this… It’s just weeks out from an election,” she said on Seven’s Sunrise.
Tens of thousands on citizenship waiting list
Mr Burke said he presided over ceremonies “whenever I get the opportunity” and had done the same when he last held the portfolio in the Rudd government.
He scoffed at the suggestion of a political motive.
“I don’t know if you’ve got some secret insight as to which way people are going to vote. I don’t,” he told Sky News.
“What I know is they’re going to make a pledge of commitment to Australia. I don’t think any council should be holding people back from doing that. They’re entitled to do so.”
Statistics published by the Department of Home Affairs show more than 50,000 people awaiting citizenship ceremonies. Nationwide, 78 per cent of those have an estimated wait time of less than three months, 20 per cent between three and six months, and 3 per cent of more than six months. The longest wait times are in regional areas where the total number of new citizens is lower.
Mr Dutton’s initial remarks came in response to a question about the citizenship ceremonies posed at the Sky News antisemitism summit.
In the same answer, he accused the government of “bring[ing] people in from a war zone without the requisite checks on a tourist visa, without precedent,” referring to Palestinian visa holders.
“Why would you do that and knowing this is a territory controlled by a listed terrorist organisation?”
The government has consistently maintained that normal practice has been followed regarding security checks for arrivals from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. None has been granted citizenship, and would not be eligible for citizenship until they have spent at least four years in Australia.
A spokesperson for Mr Dutton said he was not suggesting Palestinian visa holders had been fast-tracked for citizenship when he raised them in the context of the citizenship ceremonies issue.
