2015 MOTIONS WITH NOTICE

REJECTING THE IDEA OF ‘AUSTRALIAN’ VALUES AS RELEVANT TO CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS

Discussion noting that proposed legislation, the Citizenship (Allegiance to Australia Amendment) Act, suggested that a person can have their citizenship revoked by denouncing ‘Australian’ values. A committee member referenced suffrage in Britain, apartheid in South Africa, and Nazi ideology in Germany as examples of how ‘national’ values can have impacts on citizenship rights.

There was discussion as to whether denouncing Australian values in a resolution would be a denouncement of positive value as well, such as the ‘Fair Go’ principle. A committee member suggested that even this cannot be considered ‘Australian’ and therefore is not threatened.

A member noted the current resolution too broad and needed to be specific to the Act it resisted.

Another committee member suggested an amendment that made it more specific. The membership accepted this amendment.

Resolution 7.2
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties rejects the idea, contained in the recent proposed
amendments to the Citizenship Act, that there are ‘Australian’ values that are relevant to the
determination of people’s rights including citizenship rights.

Moved: Martin Bibby/Carolyn Barkell: that resolution be adopted: Carried