Citizenship applications have dived to their lowest levels since 2014, attributed to a tougher values test the government put forward but never implemented.
The 42 per cent plunge followed a spike in the two previous years after the government flagged bigger hurdles to eligibility.
The Department of Home Affairs told a Senate estimates committee a drop in migrant intake reduced the number of people eligible for citizenship. The new figure came off the back of a backlog of more than 147,000 applications in November last year.
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Australia hasn't learned its lesson regarding 'preventative burning': Chester | Sky News AustraliaVeterans’ Affairs Minister and Gippsland MP Darren Chester says people in at-risk fire regions “want to see more preventative burning and more measures put in place to protect' townships.\n\nThe comments come as parts of the Gippsland electorate is engulfed by flames, with many residents stranded in Mallacoota in Victoria’s east.\n\n“I think we haven’t really learnt the lesson though in terms of prescribed burning or fuel reduction burning and that was a message that came out strongly from the Black Saturday royal commission,” Mr Chester told Sky News.\n\n“My people in my community are saying to me they want to see more preventative burns in the future”.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n
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Morrison ‘masterstroke’ could help deal with Australia’s ‘disastrous’ bushfires | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Chris Smith has called for sweeping changes to be implemented to ensure Australia’s “disastrous summer” of bushfires doesn’t happen again.\n\nMr Smith praised Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement of a $2 billion dollar National Bushfire Recovery Fund, saying the proposal signified a ‘turbo-charged’ response to the crisis gripping the nation. \n\nScott Morrison said the fund -- to be administered by the new National Bushfire Recovery Agency – will be topped up by the government if more funding is needed.\n\nHowever, the Sky host demanded more action be taken to address the devastating bushfires, including the creation of “tougher punitive options… for dealing with deranged arsonists”.\n\nImage: Getty
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'Hazard reducing only a temporary fix' to Australia's bushfire crisis | Sky News AustraliaThe University of Wollongong’s Dr Owen Price says “hazard reducing has got some benefits” but it’s only a “temporary fix” as he and his team continue research on fire mapping techniques.\n\n“We are looking towards having a fine scale map, down to the street level of what the fuels are like and what the common fire paths are like, so that you can compare risks,” he told Sky News.\n\n“One of the most promising things is the use of an airborne laser beam that gives you returns when it hits a piece of vegetation, and that’s at a really fine scale, so you could actually map somebody’s garden essentially and work out how much fuel is in the garden”.\n\nThe research and technology is in early stages but shows promise to reducing severity of future fires, as Dr Owens and his research team look to collaborate with the RFS.\n\nImage: Getty
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President Trump offers support to Australia amid fires | Sky News AustraliaUS President Donald Trump has called Prime Minister Scott Morrison to offer his support to Australia during the bushfire crisis.\n\nMr Morrison tweeted “Thanks for the call realDonaldTrump and for your strong messages of sympathy, support and friendship for Australia during our terrible bushfire season. Thanks also to the American people for their many messages of support. Australia and the US are great mates”.\n\nImage: AP\n
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Australia's bushfire calamity cost to soar past a billion dollars | Sky News AustraliaThe cost of Australia's fires scorching millions of hectares of bushland has already reached $700 million in damages — and the lofty figure is set to soar higher with months of sweltering conditions left.\n\nMany Australians stranded in fire zones and other not yet able to return home to assess their property or make claims will magnify the figure.\n\nInsurance premiums could be pushed upward as well, depending on the whims of different indemnity suppliers. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia
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Psychiatrist discusses possible mental health impacts of Australia's devastating bushfires | Sky News AustraliaPsychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed has spoken with Sky News, discussing some of the psychological impacts tragic events, such as the bushfire crisis gripping the nation, can have on person's mental health. \n\nOn Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed an extra $2 billion in federal funding to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency.\n\nPart of the funding is set to go towards providing mental health support from the season's bushfires. \n\nMr Ahmed said initially, aspects of devastating events can have a positive impact on a person's mental health. \n\n'These sorts of events actually bring people together,' he said. \n\n'Initially you'll often get a real sense of purpose... so some aspects of this are actually positive for mental health'. \n\nMr Ahmed said, 'usually after these things, when people can't make any sense of what happened, or when it's over, they feel adrift'. \n\n'At the end of the day the biggest predictor of mental health is good practical support'. \n\nAnyone who may be feeling distressed can contact the following organisations for support.\n\nSANE Helpline 1800 18 72 63\n\nLifeline 131 114\n\nBeyond blue 1300 22 4636\n\nImage: Getty
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