Citizenship-stripping law passed
The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Act 2015 (Act No. 166 of 2015) amended the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to provide explicit powers for the cessation of Australian citizenship in specified circumstances where a dual citizen engaged in terrorism-related conduct. It finally passed both Houses on 3 December 2015 and received Royal Assent on 11 December 2015.
BBC reported Attorney-General George Brandis saying dual nationals who engage in terrorism “are betraying their allegiance to this country and do not deserve to be Australian citizens,” and that the laws would apply in “very limited circumstances.” The laws were not to leave anyone stateless. At the time, Brandis said at least 90 Australians were believed to be fighting with militant groups such as Islamic State, about half of them dual nationals.
Home Affairs later summarised that from 12 December 2015 until September 2020 the Citizenship Act contained automatic-cessation and related provisions (including former ss 33AA, 35 and 35A). Those arrangements were later replaced and then revised again after High Court decisions. The 2015 Act was the original citizenship-stripping law.
More sources:
