3rd Dec 2015, 9:35 PM – Senate Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015 - in Committee - Add a sunset clause

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm. In other words, the majority did not want to add a new sunset clause to the bill.

What is a sunset clause?

A sunset clause puts a limit on how long parts of the bill (or maybe even the whole bill) can be in force without being considered again by Parliament. For example, Leyonhjelm's proposed sunset clause would have meant that the sections he mentioned would stop being law after ten years. At that point, if the Parliament wanted the sections to continue, they would have to re-introduce them.

Read Senator Leyonhjelm's speech to learn why he thought a sunset clause was needed.

What is this bill all about?

The main idea of the bill is to remove the Australian citizenship of a dual national in certain situations, including if they fight for or serve a terrorist organisation (read more in the bills digest and ABC News).

Wording of Leyonhjelm's amendment

(1) Schedule 1, page 18 (after line 27), after item 7, insert:

7A After section 53

Insert:

53A Sunset provision

(1) Sections 33AA, 35, 35AA, 35AB, 35A, 35B and 36A cease to have effect at the end of 10 years after this section commences.

(2) The regulations may prescribe matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) arising out of the provisions mentioned in subsection (1) ceasing to have effect in accordance with that subsection.