Submission Regarding the Australian Citizenship Amendment
The FECCA submission on the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Cessation) Bill 2019 raises significant concerns about the potential risks of statelessness and the lack of transparent review processes under the proposed legislation. Arguing that the decision to cease a person’s Australian citizenship should be based on objective evidence rather than the Minister’s subjective “satisfaction” regarding their dual nationality. It highlights the grave consequences such determinations could have on individuals, their families, and communities, particularly if a person is left stateless or indefinitely detained due to legal ambiguities. FECCA recommends that the bill be revised to include robust safeguards, such as ensuring that citizenship cessation does not render someone stateless and granting access to transparent merits review processes.
Underscoring the need for better procedural fairness, individuals affected by citizenship cessation decisions must have access to appropriate legal representation and the ability to challenge decisions effectively. The organisation calls for the inclusion of more rigorous checks to verify dual citizenship claims and urges the government to adopt a more humane and equitable approach. The submission aligns with human rights principles and advocates for policies that respect the fundamental right to nationality while ensuring national security measures are implemented with fairness and due process.
