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Requiring immigrants who apply for a partner visa to pass an English test would be a paternalistic measure that will tear families apart, refugee and women s advocates say.
The Department of Home Affairs is considering adding a language requirement for partner visa applications. Under the proposal, both the person applying for the visa and the person sponsoring the visa would have to pass the English test.
A consultation paper issued by the department says the measure would protect potential victims of violence by encouraging them to learn English. Migrants who do not have sufficient English language skills may be more vulnerable to family violence and other exploitation, the paper states.
Proposed English test a hurdle for migrants escaping violent partners
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A federal government proposal to require migrants on partner visas to pass an English language test before obtaining permanent residency could make it harder for victims of domestic violence to seek help, submissions to a public consultation warn.
Former acting minister for immigration Alan Tudge said last October there were nearly a million people in Australia who do not speak English well or at all and half of them were working age. He said the enhanced language requirement along with an expansion of the government-funded free English tuition would boost social and economic outcomes for migrants.
Proposed English test a hurdle for migrants escaping violent partners theage.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theage.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.