Australia unveils major changes

Canberra yesterday unveiled plans to put "Australian values" at the heart of tougher requirements to gain citizenship, days after scrapping a visa programme for temporary foreign workers.

The moves came against a background of growing populist pressure and a resurgence of the anti-immigration One Nation party led by Pauline Hanson.

"We're defined by commitment to common values, political values, the rule of law, democracy, freedom, mutual respect, equality for men and women," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters.

"These fundamental values are what make us Australian. Our citizenship process should reflect that.

"So today we are announcing changes to strengthen citizenship, to make for a stronger Australia, stronger citizenship, stronger citizens."

The new requirements include competent English, belief in gender equality and a four-year qualification period.

Candidates for citizenship will be required to be permanent residents for four years against the current one-year period.

They will also need to demonstrate a job record and how they have integrated into the local community.

The current "civics" test for would-be Australians would be expanded to include issues such as domestic violence, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

"We are entitled to say if you want to be a citizen of Australia, there are a few things that we want you to demonstrate that you share," Turnbull added.