24Minister’s decision

#### 24 Minister’s decision (1) If a person makes an application under section 21, the Minister must, by writing, approve or refuse to approve the person becoming an Australian citizen. > Note: The Minister may cancel an approval: see section 25. (1A) The Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen unless the person is eligible to become an Australian citizen under subsection 21(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8). (2) The Minister may refuse to approve the person becoming an Australian citizen despite the person being eligible to become an Australian citizen under subsection 21(2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7). (2A) If the Minister exercised the power under subsection 22A(1A) or 22B(1A) in relation to the person, the decision under subsection (1) of this section must be made by the Minister personally. Identity (3) The Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen unless the Minister is satisfied of the identity of the person. > Note: Division 5 contains the identity provisions. National security (4) If the person is not covered by subsection (4B), the Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen at a time when an adverse security assessment, or a qualified security assessment, in respect of the person is in force under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 that the person is directly or indirectly a risk to security (within the meaning of section 4 of that Act). (4A) If the person is covered by subsection (4B), the Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen if the person: (a) if subparagraph (4B)(b)(i) applies to the person: (i) has been convicted of a national security offence; or (ii) subject to subsection (4C), has been convicted of an offence against an Australian law or a foreign law, for which the person has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 5 years; or (b) if subparagraph (4B)(b)(ii) applies to the person—has been convicted of a national security offence. (4B) A person is covered by this subsection if: (a) at the time the person made the application under section 21, the person: (i) is not a national of any country; and (ii) is not a citizen of any country; and (b) either: (i) the person was born in Australia; or (ii) the person was born outside Australia and, at the time of the person’s birth, the person had a parent who was an Australian citizen. (4C) The Minister may decide that subparagraph (4A)(a)(ii) does not apply in relation to a person if, taking into account the circumstances that resulted in the person’s conviction, the Minister is satisfied that it would be unreasonable for that subparagraph to apply in relation to the person. (4D) To avoid doubt, subsection (4A) applies to a person who is eligible to become an Australian citizen under subsection 21(8). Person not present in Australia (5) If: (a) the person is covered by subsection 21(2), (3) or (4); and (aa) the Minister is satisfied that the person did not satisfy the special residence requirement referred to in section 22A or 22B; and (b) the Minister did not apply subsection 22(9) in relation to the person; and (c) the Minister did not apply subsection 22(11) in relation to the person; the Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen at a time when the person is not present in Australia. Offences (6) The Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen at a time: (a) when proceedings for an offence against an Australian law (including proceedings by way of appeal or review) are pending in relation to the person; or (b) when the person is confined to a prison in Australia; or (c) during the period of 2 years after the end of any period during which the person has been confined to a prison in Australia because of the imposition on the person of a serious prison sentence; or (d) if the person is a serious repeat offender in relation to a serious prison sentence—during the period of 10 years after the end of any period during which the person has been confined to a prison in Australia because of the imposition of that sentence; or (e) if the person has been released from serving the whole or a part of a sentence of imprisonment on parole or licence—during any period during which action can be taken under an Australian law to require the person to serve the whole or a part of that sentence; or (f) if the person: (i) has been released by a court from serving the whole or a part of a sentence of imprisonment; and (ii) has been so released because the person gave a security, with or without sureties, by recognizance or otherwise, that the person will comply with conditions relating to the person’s behaviour; during any period during which action can be taken against the person under an Australian law because of a breach of a condition of that security; or (g) if, in respect of proceedings for an offence against an Australian law in relation to the person: (i) a court does not impose a sentence of imprisonment on the person; and (ii) the court releases the person because the person gives a security, with or without sureties, by recognizance or otherwise, that the person will comply with conditions relating to the person’s behaviour; during any period during which action can be taken against the person under an Australian law because of a breach of a condition of that security; or (h) during any period during which the person is confined in a psychiatric institution by order of a court made in connection with proceedings for an offence against an Australian law in relation to the person. Cessation of citizenship (7) If the person has at any time ceased to be an Australian citizen, the Minister must not approve the person becoming an Australian citizen during the period of 12 months starting on the day on which the person ceased, or last ceased, to be an Australian citizen. Statelessness (8) However, subsections (6) and (7) do not apply to a person covered by subsection 21(8) (about statelessness).