Dual citizens could lose their Australian passport if… – AG George Brandis

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(dpa/GNA) – Dual citizens could lose their Australian passport if they are found to be engaging in terrorism abroad, such as with Islamic State, under proposed changes, a news report said Tuesday.

BrandisThe changes would give Immigration Minister Peter Dutton the power to remove the passport where “a dual citizen betrays our country by participating in serious terrorist-related activities,” the Daily Telegraph reported, citing Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

This would also apply to “so-called lone wolves, whether in Australia or on foreign soil,” Abbott said.

The proposal was put forward by Dutton and Abbott, who hoped to put it to parliament in coming weeks, the report said.

The cabinet was also debating a further revision, to allow the government to strip a terrorism suspect’s sole Australian nationality if he or she has the option of applying for another citizenship.

Some in the cabinet objected, saying that such individuals were less likely to be granted that second nationality after having their Australian one cancelled, effectively leaving them stateless, in violation of international law, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“We are not going to rendering anyone stateless, nobody has proposed that,” Attorney-General George Brandis told the paper. “Everything we do will be compliant with the rule of law … but we are going to be tough.”

GNA

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