Zoema has been waiting for naturalization approval for 17 months. (photo of Sydney Morning Herald)
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the number of Australian nationals granted to Australians born in China has fallen sharply at a time when relations between China and Australia have tightened and immigration quotas have sparked political debate.
Only 1559 Chinese-born Australians were granted Australian citizenship in the first eight months of the 2017-2018 fiscal year, according to data from the Home Affairs Department (Department of Home Affairs) obtained by Fafas Media (Fairfax Media). Compared with the successful approval of 6500 applications for naturalization of Chinese immigrants in fiscal year 2016 / 17, this is only a dime.
In previous years, as many as 10000 Chinese-born Australians applied for citizenship, of which 8,000 were approved. Between 2012 and 2016, Chinese residents accounted for 6 percent of all applicants for naturalization and all those allowed to become naturalized.
However, data from the Ministry of the Interior from July 2017 to February 2018 showed that while the number of Chinese immigrants applying for naturalization remained stable, the percentage of those granted naturalization fell to less than 3 percent. "
Over the same period, the proportion of Indian immigrants granted naturalization rose from 15% to 18% of all migrants from countries of origin. The proportion of British immigrants also rose from 14% to 16%, while the proportion of South African immigrants increased from 3% to 5%.
Although Prime Minister Tam Po (Malcolm Turnbull) delivered a speech last week aimed at repairing Australia-China relations, some members of the Chinese community questioned whether the dispute over the "penetration of Chinese influence" would have a devastating impact on the naturalization process.
"I`ve lived here for nearly 45 years. It`s the worst two years I`ve ever had." Hong Kong-born yellow tree Liang (Sam Wong) said. He was a former chief pharmacist at the Health Department of the Capital Territory. In 1999, he was awarded the Australian title (Order of Australia), for serving the multicultural society. He was the former chairman of the Canberra Forum on multiculturalism (Canberra Multicultural Forum).
"I just want a lower level of naturalization in bulk, not because the current undesirable diplomatic government has escalated tensions between China and Australia." Said the yellow tree beam.
Melbourne resident Zoe Ma, born in China, has been awaiting naturalization approval for 17 months. She had to postpone her return to visit her elderly grandmother because of the suspension of the naturalization process, taking into account her departure from Australia during the waiting period. Zoe`s grandmother died last month.
"I`m in pain," she said. "No one can tell me how long it will take."
Currently, citizen and multiculturalism minister Tucci (Alan Tudge) declined to comment on the data, and Tucci`s office also refused to provide naturalization approval data as of June 30,. (Charlene)
