Coalition leader Peter Dutton is considering pushing to hold a referendum over deporting convicted criminals who hold dual citizenships.
The poll, if approved by the public, would amend the constitution to give the federal government the right to strip convicted dual national criminals of their Australian citizenship.
A decision has reportedly not been made whether Dutton will officially announce the plans during the May campaign.
“I think it’s a conversation for our country at some point, maybe sooner than later, about how we can say to these people, ‘If you don’t share our values, if you’re here and you’re enjoying the welfare system and you’re enjoying free health and free education, then at the same time you hate our country, well, I don’t think you’ve got a place here’,” Dutton told 2GB at the time.
Under current laws, the Commonwealth can apply to the court to strip a dual national person of their Australian citizenship if they have committed a serious offence and have been sentenced to more than three years behind bars.
In order for this to happen the person needs to demonstrate they have “repudiated their allegiance to Australia,” The Department of Home Affairs states.
A High Court ruling in 2022 also found it unconstitutional for ministers to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship.
The proposed referendum follows a similar proposal by former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott in 2015 to strip Australian terrorists of their citizenship, even those who aren’t dual nationals.
Shortly following reports of Dutton’s plans for a referendum, senior shadow minister Michaelia Cash said there were “no plans” for such a vote but was keeping “all options on the table”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rubbished Dutton’s proposal as a “thought bubble” and pointed out the Opposition Leader has been a vocal critic of holding referendums following the Voice.
“Well, this is another thought bubble from Peter Dutton that hasn’t made it to lunchtime,” the PM said at a doorstep interview in Queensland today.
“Thought bubbles aimed at taking some things that might have occurred in other countries, aimed at dividing people,” he added.
“It’s the second referendum that he’s called for. At the same time as he criticises referendums that he voted for.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers also criticised the referendum proposal as “bizarre”.
“He quite bizarrely wants another referendum,” Chalmers said.
“I don’t think this idea will last long, just like a lot of the other things that he said, in an effort to try and avoid talking about the economy, and his cuts.”
