Highlights
- Labor outraged at government's plan to introduce new English language test for partner visas
- Australian partner visa applicants and their permanent resident sponsors will be required to have functional-level English as per new rules
- New policy to come into effect in late 2021, says Immigration Minister Alan Tudge
The Morrison Government claims the will enable migrants to maximise their employment opportunities and get the best out of life in Australia – the two primary reasons that draw migrants to Australia.
“While the ability to speak multiple languages is a great asset for an individual and for Australia, a person will struggle to fully participate in our society and democracy without basic English.
"These new measures will provide further opportunity for migrants and new citizens to maximise their opportunities in Australia,” said Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge.
‘Smacks of racism’
Labor's shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally today said the plan to force people seeking a partner visa to learn English “smacks of racism,” and the end results could be the opposite of what is being desired by the Morrison Government, making it even harder for couples to begin their lives in Australia.
Labor's shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally during a virtual press conference on Monday. Source: SBS Punjabi
On this policy, I wouldn't be surprised if the Government walks away from it completely. This English language test for partner visas smacks of racism - Kristina Keneally
“And if that was the Government's intent, well, shame on them. If it's a mistake by the Government, then they should fix it immediately and they should scrap this policy of imposing an English language test on partner visas,” Ms Keneally said during a virtual press conference on Monday.
The new immigration requirement announced through the Federal Government’s Budget process, which applies to both the applicant and their sponsor if they are a permanent resident, if approved by the parliament would come into effect in mid-2021.
It requires both the prospective applicants and their sponsors to have "functional-level English" or for them to demonstrate that they have made "reasonable efforts” to learn the language.
Outlining the definition of “reasonable efforts”, Minister Tudge told SBS Punjabi that one way to demonstrate an attempt to learn English would be to sit for free English language classes through the
“And if already your English is adequate and clearly don't need English language classes, then you just need to demonstrate in a manner which will be defined over the next few months as to how you can prove you've got functional English, and that might be because you've gone to an English speaking school or university.
“It might be that you pass the English language test set at a functional level, or it could be another mechanism and we will define those over the months,” said Minister Tudge.
'What business is it of the Australian Government to decide who Australians should fall in love with?'
Labor's Minister for Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles said that even though the Budget was delivered nearly a week ago, they have no clear understanding as to what the Government aims to achieve through the introduction of an English language proficiency test.
Labor MP Andrew Giles. Source: AAP
“I'm unable to find anyone who can clearly articulate what this test means, other than to impose anxiety on people who are already stressed, other than to impose the sense of disrespect.
“Not only for people who are applicants but for so many people in our country who have come here without English or with very limited English and have made extraordinary contributions, extraordinary contributions who have built modern Australia,” said Mr Giles.
In the Budget, the government also announced that they will allocate an additional 30,000 places to the partner visa category on a one-off basis for the current financial year.
Calling it just another "headline-grabbing announcement," Senator Keneally said the government should instead focus on clearing the partner visa application back and work towards making the pathway more accessible for migrants.
“Some 90 per cent of people are waiting 27 months to get a partner visa application finalised. Now, the Morrison Government says they want to build social cohesion but how can you do that? How can you build cohesion when people are waiting so long to get their partner visas processed?” questioned Ms Keneally.
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