Australian citizenship resumption

The 1,994 Maltese who were forced to renounce their Australian citizenship because of Maltese law at the time will now be able to resume it after the Australian federal elections in 2005 due to changes in the Australian Citizenship Act.

This comes after much lobbying by Kate Sullivan, founder and lobbyist of The Malta Cross Group, to remove the age limit and other restrictions that were still in place following amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act in 2002.

Australia's Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Gary Hardgrave, said in his speech to the Australian Institute last week: "The changes I will announce this evening focus on maintaining the integrity of our national unity and the status which comes from becoming an Australian citizen while broadening eligibility to welcome back into the family many of those who may have lost their birthright while living overseas. Australian citizenship law and policy has changed over time, in line with our diverse population and society to remove discriminatory provisions and unnecessary barriers".

February 2000 saw Malta amending its law to allow for dual citizenship but this came after many Maltese returned to Malta and had already renounced their Australian citizenship to gain access to services and education. The only criterion for resumption of Australian citizenship is that the person be of good character, or if the person had at least one parent who was an Australian.

The Act will be amended to extend the registration of Australian citizenship by descent for people born overseas before January 26, 1949 to whoever became an Australian citizen on commencement of the Act on that date.