So now the Liberals want migrants to pass an English test.

[i-need-a-martini]

Mr Morrison said the English language and jobs for immigrants, not festivals, were the keys to ensuring Australia's prosperity and unity. Australia needed more than a one-off snapshot of immigrants' English proficiency and follow-up tests could ensure language skills did not remain static.

With a big shift from permanent immigration to temporary visas, Mr Morrison said: ''There is a great opportunity to have a series of barriers, if you like - a temporary entry [test], a permanent residence and potentially even citizenship, if people want to have that conversation.'' When prompted, he would not not commit to making English a precondition for citizenship.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/morrison-harks-to-integration-20130717-2q4m...

Another Liberal politician who's mouth spews forth gardbage before his brain cogs start working.

[twinkles**stars]

Oh for goodness sake! Is it such a bad thing that new comers learn English making it easier for not just them but those that already live here and speak the English language? So many have lived here for decades and still speak little English which is a shame.

[azureline**]

I can see merit in that but why citizenship?

Why not fund English lessons for non English speaking people who arrive here?

I have an issue with anyone who makes no attempt to learn the language if they have the opportunity to do so, if they live in a country that is not predominantly speaking their native language.

I know it is difficult as an adult, in the 70's I assisted Italian and Croatian families with getting English lessons arranged at our children's schools. They  came to me asking me to read the children's homework and reports because they couldn't, I addressed it with the principal and voila! classes for parents. It also fostered a great community relationship.

[purplecarrot-top]

I think it would be easier for everyone if immigrants learnt to speak english. I think if I went to a non english speaking country to live I would want to be able converse with the locals.

[***super_nova***]

---

@twinkles**stars wrote:

Oh for goodness sake! Is it such a bad thing that new comers learn English making it easier for not just thembut those that already live here and speak the English language? So many have lived here for decades and still speak little English which is a shame.

---

Of-course, it is a good thing that people who come her learn English, and ALL migrants try as much as they can.  Nobody says 'I do not want to learn English'.  But it is not easy to spend whole day working and then, when they are exhausted, to go to school at night, even if the school is available.  And there are many more stresses in daily life for people who only just arrive here. 

Those people who are here for decades and still do not speak English are those who arrived as adults with family, and worked 2 or 3 jobs to provide for their families & be able to start own business, often working for/with people from their own country, and there just was not time/opportunity to also go to school and learn English.  They are isolated from the rest of the community, and that is sad for them, but that does not mean that they were not good citizens for Australia. 

Sad thing is that people spend so much time in detention "without the right to classes".  Providing English classes would not only help when people are released, but it would also give them some hope, and reduce the self harm and other undesirable behaviour.

[just_me_karen]

Also, many migrants can only find work with others from the same country, so they don't get exposure to English. I you think about it, if an Aussie moved to a non English speaking country it's likely they'll choose to live near other English speakers, just to minimise the culture shock.

[spotweldersfriend]

I learned to speak English at Wassamatta U.

[lakeland27]

 I wonder how long until morrison expects everyone to speak in tongues..

i'd like him to speak in tongues on TV, so more people know exactly who he is, and to see if anyone understands..

[daydream**believer]

i agree with it

[the_great_she_elephant]

I agree in principal. Learning English would indeed make life a lot easier for migrants. What I found horrifying was Morrison's systatement: ''There is a great opportunity to have a series of barriers," (in other words 'lets make it as hard as possible for them to get permanent residence.')

What an appalling attitude. What about 'Lets make it as easy as possible.'? ''There is a great opportunity to make English lesson more freely available to help migrants assimilate into our  community.'