Controversial citizenship test to stay
THE controversial citizenship test is likely to stay under the Rudd Government after initial results showed an average 93 per cent pass rate in the first three months of its operation.
But almost half of the 638 people who failed the test were refugees.
The new Government said that it would adjust the test to ensure "the right questions" were being asked of the most vulnerable prospective new citizens.
Almost 30 per cent of Sudanese, the vast majority of whom arrived via the humanitarian program, failed the test.
This compared with a failure rate of just over 2 per cent for British immigrants and just 1 per cent for Indian immigrants.
Refugees who sat the test generally fared much worse than business, skilled or family reunion immigrants.
Overall, one in five people in the humanitarian immigration stream failed.
Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said there would be some changes to the test.
"The Government is confident that the citizenship test can play a valuable role in helping new citizens understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship," Senator Evans said.
"But we need to make sure that the test does not disadvantage those people who most need our support."
According to the test results for the first three months of operation to December, 9043 applicants sat the test and 638 failed.
"More work needs to be done to make sure the right questions are asked," Senator Evans said.
Immigrants from Iraq comprised the third-largest group sitting the test after those from Britain and China.
Applicants seeking to become Australian citizens came from 172 countries.
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