Government plan to overhaul citizenship process

An Australian government plan to overhaul its citizenship process has suffered a setback after opposition parties effectively blocked its Senate passage.

The proposed bill would have made it harder to gain the country’s citizenship.

It included requirements for applicants to have advanced English language skills and four years of permanent residency.

Opponents argued the requirements were too tough on non-English speakers.

However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government says it will make amendments to the bill.

Late on Wednesday, a Senate deadline expired after labour, the greens and the Nick Xenophon team signalled they would not support the bill in its current form.