Coalition leader Peter Dutton is contemplating a referendum to empower the federal government to revoke the Australian citizenship of dual nationals who are convicted criminals. This initiative, contingent upon public approval, aims to amend the constitution, thereby granting the government the authority to remove citizenship from individuals who have committed serious crimes.
Currently, legislation allows the Commonwealth to request a court to strip dual nationals of their citizenship, provided they have been sentenced to over three years for serious offences. To be eligible for such actions, these individuals must demonstrate that they have “repudiated their allegiance to Australia,” according to the Department of Home Affairs. However, a High Court decision in 2022 deemed it unconstitutional for ministers to unilaterally determine this without court involvement.
Dutton has not yet confirmed whether he will announce the referendum plans during the forthcoming May election campaign. He expressed the necessity of discussing national values, particularly regarding those who benefit from Australia’s welfare system yet exhibit disdain for the country. This sentiment echoes earlier proposals made by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2015, which sought to revoke citizenship from Australian terrorists, including those without dual nationality.
Following Dutton’s discussions, senior shadow minister Michaelia Cash clarified that while there were no immediate plans for a referendum, all possibilities remained open. In contrast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the proposal as a “thought bubble” and highlighted Dutton’s previous criticisms of referendums, especially in relation to the recent Voice to Parliament referendum.
Albanese remarked that Dutton’s latest proposal seemed to be a superficial idea, aimed at generating divisiveness rather than addressing substantive issues facing the nation. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also labelled the referendum notion as “bizarre,” suggesting it serves as a distraction from pressing economic discussions.
Overall, while the proposal highlights ongoing debates about national identity and citizenship in Australia, it faces considerable scrutiny and skepticism from the current government and other political figures.