Highlights
- 70,000 received their Australian citizenship in an online ceremony since March
- 204,800 people granted Australian citizenship in 2019-20
- 138,219* applicants still awaiting the outcome of their citizenship application
Speaking with reporters from the multicultural media on Thursday, Mr Tudge announced 70,000 people had become Australian citizens through virtual citizenship ceremonies since March.
He said more than 204,800 people became citizens in 2019-20, the biggest increase of new citizens on record and 60 per cent more than the previous financial year.
For those waiting for the outcome of their applications, he said he expected the waiting times to drop by the end of this year.
“We've made enormous efforts this year, despite the COVID restrictions, to try to address what was becoming a longer waiting period for many people before they could become citizens,” Mr Tudge told the reporters.
“Now, when COVID hit, it meant that we couldn't do the usual face-to-face citizenship ceremonies that have been part of Australian life for a great many years now. Instead, we instituted some online citizenship ceremonies and ensured that we still had the same integrity levels in those citizenship ceremonies that we have in the face-to-face.
“I am pleased to announce that this week, we hit 70,000 people who have now been made a citizen in an online ceremony.
“On top of that, over the last 12 months, there's been 204,000 people who have become Australian citizens, which is a 60 per cent increase on the previous year.
“Now that means that we are almost back to regular citizenship wait times that we were used to before the last couple of years.
“My expectation is that by the end of this year, we certainly will be back to those regular wait times, which is then in the vicinity of six to 12 months rather than some occasions going out to 18 or so months.
“So, I think that's obviously great news for those 200,000-odd people who have become citizens, but also should be reassuring for those others who want to become citizens,” Mr Tudge said.
As of June 30, 2020, 138,219* applicants were still awaiting the outcome of their citizenship application.
The current average waiting period has shot up to 25 months from date of application to ceremony.
Small numbers of appointments for tests and interviews have begun in Perth and Sydney.
The current average waiting period has shot up to 25 months from date of application to ceremony. Source: Department of Home Affairs
The government says the Department of Home Affairs will resume citizenship interviews and testing in line with COVID-19 health advice.
“New applications for Australian citizenship are being accepted. Processing continues on all applications for Australian citizenship that have already been lodged with the Department,” the Department of Home Affairs states.
“We will gradually restart interviews and citizenship tests in other states and territories when it is safe to do so.”
Mr Tudge earlier told the government wanted to expand this as soon as possible as restrictions ease across Australia.
“We’re certainly keen to get the citizenship tests and those interviews back on track as quickly as possible - but obviously we have to do that in a safe way,” he said.
“I’m hoping over the few months as restrictions ease in all states other than Victoria that we’ll be able to get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
'Promising news but no progress on the ground’
Sydney-based Abhijeet Sen who started a petition calling on the government to restart Australian citizenship tests and interviews said acting minister Tudge’s statement was promising news but there has been no progress on the ground.
“If the minister says the waiting times will drop, I welcome it. It is indeed promising news for those waiting for their citizenship interview and tests. But very little has happened on the ground.
“Very small number of tests have resumed. Except for Victoria, we believe the tests and interviews can restart in other states but there is no progress on the ground.
“Many businesses have resumed. I am sure if they apply resources, they can restart citizenship tests and interviews too,” Mr Sen told SBS Hindi.
