In a year which has begun after the foiling of a Christmas terrorist plot in Melbourne and with the horrifying news of an Islamic State-backed massacre in a nightclub in Istanbul, it is both right and responsible for Australia to question and discuss the objectives of its citizenship test.

As Immigration Minister Peter Dutton pointed out as 2017 got underway, we have entered a “new age” of terrorist attacks, and should be vigilant about weeding out the minority of people that might act to “harm us or seek to rip us off.”

Dutton is proposing that the Australian government should take a low-cost, sensible and precautionary step to help ensure that the people who are allowed to take up citizenship in our so-far safe, free and egalitarian nation genuinely share the values of the vast majority.

'HOW TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE'

As you may be aware, I am on Women's Council for the NSW Liberal Party, and as a result am able to extend this invite to my networks.

I would like to invite Migration Alliance members to lunch with the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Women on Friday 6 May 2016. 

Women and fighting.  Not really a traditional "girl's choice" for sport.  

Dominique Firriolo is an Australian female Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter.  She's ranked number 1 in Australia in her division, and is forging ahead in a male-dominated sport.  I can't resist promoting Dominique (of Italian heritage), to help her to reach her dreams.  Yes, my choice is extreme, but then when have I ever been one to choose a nice, safe path?  C'mon RMAs.  Let's help Dominique! #IWD2016

The theme of IWD 2016 is #PledgeforParity

"Everyone - men and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly - whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity."

InternationalWomensDay.com 

Migration Alliance is in receipt of the following information from the AAT:

I write to advise that the Governor-General has appointed Ms Jan Redfern PSM to serve as a full time Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and as Division Head of the Migration and Refugee Division (MRD) for a period of seven years commencing 21 March 2016. 

Ms Redfern has served most recently as a Principal Member of the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and prior to this as a Deputy President of the Guardianship Tribunal of New South Wales. Ms Redfern was a senior member of the AAT for five years from 2009 to 2014. Ms Redfern also previously held a number of Senior Executive positions in the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and in 2007 was awarded a Commonwealth Public Service Medal for outstanding service in the field of corporate and financial services regulation and enforcement.