Australia unveils tougher citizenship process in migration crackdown

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tightened the country's citizenship rules in a further crackdown on immigration.

Applicants will have to wait four years before applying for citizenship instead of one currently, prove a higher degree of proficiency in English and pass a citizenship test to show they have “Australian values” and can integrate into society, Turnbull said Thursday.

Applicants must also have completed four years as a permanent resident - three years longer than at present.

The move comes two days after the government unveiled stricter visa requirements for skilled workers from overseas, amid claims employers were abusing a programme now used by almost 100,000 foreign workers.

Turnbull said the changes would ensure that migrants were better integrated into the community.

"It is important that they understand that they are making a commitment to our Australian values," he said.

“We must ensure that our citizenship programme is conducted in our national interest. Membership of the Australian family is a privilege and should be granted to those who support our values, respect our laws and want to work hard by integrating and contributing to an even better Australia.”

The requirements would apply to all new applications for citizenship, the government said.

The opposition Labour Party accused Turnbull of making announcements for political gain.

"It seems a little odd to me that you would actually ask people whether or not they are going to obey the law when they already pledge to obey the law," Labour senator Penny Wong said.

Turnbull, whose Liberal-National government won re-election last year with a narrow majority, is seeking to counter the rise of fringe populist parties that have capitalised on a wave of anti-immigration sentiment that has also spread through the US and Europe.