44AEvidence of Australian citizenship

#### 44A Evidence of Australian citizenship (1) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears: > authorized officer means an officer authorized by the Secretary to issue certificates under this section. > prescribed evidentiary certificate means: (a) a certificate issued under subsection (2); or (b) a certificate that was issued before the commencement of this section under subsection 11C(3) of the Citizenship Act 1948 or of that Act as amended. (2) Where the Secretary is satisfied that a person referred to in section 11B of the Citizenship Act 1948 had, before the commencement of this section, duly given a notice under section 11C of that Act or of that Act as amended and has not ceased to be an Australian citizen, the Secretary shall, on application by that person, cause an authorized officer to issue to that person an evidentiary certificate in relation to the Australian citizenship of that person. (3) An evidentiary certificate under this section shall certify that the person specified in the certificate is an Australian citizen. (4) Where the Secretary is satisfied that a person to whom a prescribed evidentiary certificate has been issued is not an Australian citizen, the Secretary may, by order in writing signed by the Secretary, revoke the certificate. (5) A prescribed evidentiary certificate is, unless the certificate is shown to have been revoked either before or after the commencement of this section, prima facie evidence that the person specified in the certificate is an Australian citizen. (6) The Secretary shall cancel all prescribed evidentiary certificates that are revoked after the commencement of this section. (7) An order under subsection (4) may be proved in legal proceedings by the production of a copy of the order together with a certificate signed by an authorized officer certifying the copy to be a true copy. (8) A prescribed evidentiary certificate, a certificate under subsection 11C(8) of the Citizenship Act 1948 or of that Act as amended or a certificate referred to in subsection (7) of this section is admissible in evidence in legal proceedings without proof of the signature of the person signing it or of the fact that the person signing it was entitled to sign it.