Fletcher clings to narrow lead as rival candidates turn on outsider

Local issues might yet prove decisive in the safe seat of Bradfield, writes Phillip Coorey.

Bradman dismissed from test of values

THE "Australiana quiz" that probed would-be Australians' knowledge of Don Bradman and a former billiards champion has been turfed for a citizenship test focusing on democracy and the rule of law.

Citizenship Check For Slovakian To Become Our Next Dinky Di Hope

JARMILA GAJDOSOVA may still be trying to sort out her Australian citizenship, yet she may be the next great hope for women's tennis in this country.

New Test Line-up And The Don Is Out

THE citizenship test will be overhauled by the Federal Government to make it less difficult for refugees and disadvantaged migrants.

A Long Way From The Violence In Sudan, They Now Call Australia Home

FOR one of Warrnambool's Sudanese refugees, taking out Australian citizenship was not complete until he heard the word "gnatawa" (welcome) pronounced in the local Gunditj Mara language.

Our Friends In Need

This is the winning entry in the United Nations Youth Association Global Citizenship Essay competition. The competition was open to Victorian students in years 10 to 12. The topic: Is Australia a good international citizen?

Greed Is Not Good...

LORD Michael Hastings, global head of citizenship at KPMG, is blunt: greed is the culprit. "However we reflect on the current financial pressures, at their root are the dramatic issues of life - greed, personal responsibilities, ambition ... these are basic human behaviours," he said.

Rudd's Multicultural Policy 'opaque'

THE Rudd Government has not corrected the policies of the Howard government towards tolerance and diversity, Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou says. "(Its) approach to multiculturalism remains opaque," he said, citing Labor's support for a citizenship test.

It's Hip To Get The Snip

AUSTRALIA is the vasectomy capital of the world. One in three Aussie men blokes aged in their 40s and 50s has had the snip, says family planning charity Marie Stopes, a figure matched by no men on Earth (except the Kiwis, who for the purposes of this story have been granted Australian citizenship).

Franklin Opts To Seek Citizenship

KAVOSSY Franklin's decision to seek Australian citizenship wasn't made overnight.

Passport To A Nightmare

Dual citizenship can cause more pain than gain for the naive traveller, writes Jane E. Fraser.

Teach Good Citizenship: Academics

It's the old debate - improve the 3Rs or life skills? By Caroline Milburn.

Sand And Jibes Fly As Georgia Nets Emotional Victory Over Russia

THE Russians were sullen in defeat, insisting that their opponents were not "real" Georgians. The Brazil-born Georgian players - who spent two years gaining dual citizenship to represent the former Soviet state - said they played their hearts out to win for their Georgian friends and colleagues suffering the onslaught of war.

Georgia's Hugs Don't Thaw Cold War

THE Russians were sullen in defeat, petulantly insisting that their opponents were not "real" Georgians. The Brazilian-born Georgian players, who spent two years gaining dual citizenship to represent the former Soviet state, said they played from the heart to win for fellow Georgians suffering the onslaught of war.

Sand And Jibes Fly As Georgia Nets Win Over Russia

THE Russians were sullen in defeat, insisting that their opponents were not "real" Georgians. The Brazil-born Georgian players - who spent two years gaining dual citizenship to represent the former Soviet state - said they played their hearts out to win for their Georgian friends and colleagues suffering the onslaught of war.

Bradman Sidelined In Citizen Rethink

A CAMPAIGN to encourage Australian residents to take citizenship and an overhaul of the qualifying test have been proposed in a report to Immigration Minister Chris Evans.

Uncovering Conflicting Identities

You cannot wear the burqa and become a citizen of France. This ruling affects all countries imposing citizenship tests.

Immigration Delays Attacked

THE Commonwealth Ombudsman has released a damning report on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's handling of freedom-of-information requests over the past three years.

Bradman May Be Dropped From Test

NO MIGRANT should need to know that Don Bradman was famous for cricket or Walter Lindrum excelled at billiards to become an Australian citizen, according to the head of a review into the citizenship test.

Citizenship Test 'may Not Be Legal'

THE Australian citizenship test imposed last year may be illegal because it takes more than a basic grasp of English to pass, according to one of the nation's top barristers.