He noted the general test, according to its own description, focused on "basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts", while the academic version was designed for people applying to study in an English-speaking country. Peter Dutton says the amendments aim to clarify the laws so that they "reflect the original policy intent". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But Catherine Elder, a world-leading expert at Melbourne University and president of the International Language Testing Association, said it was wrong to assert that one test was more difficult than the other. "The general IELTS test is an alternative to the academic IELTS test but the scale is the same. A six on one and a six on the other is more or less the same level [of English]," she told Fairfax Media. "A level six on both tests requires you to be highly literate and to be able to do things like write an essay. It would take a great deal of time and be beyond the reach of many people who come to Australia."

That echoed remarks from Labor's citizenship spokesman Tony Burke, who told Sky News: "There are two different pathways but when you test them, the standard that they're tested to is the same. Tony Burke: "There are two different pathways but when you test them, the standard that they're tested to is the same." Credit:Andrew Meares "It goes to the sort of English that's used, not to the level of English that's required." Associate Professor Elder said neither test was appropriate for testing aspiring Australian citizens. But the Coalition used question time to pummel Labor over the citizenship issue, including revelations Mr Burke authored an opinion article 11 years ago demanding "stricter English-speaking requirements for people wanting to work in Australia".

Mr Burke also wrote, at the time, that "all those who enter Australia [should] make some sort of formal commitment to respect the democracy that they are about to enter". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the remarks could have come "out of one of Peter Dutton or my speeches", while rowdy Coalition MPs pointed across the aisle yelling "hypocrisy" and "come over here". Mr Dutton said Labor's claims of university-level English testing were "all a red herring" and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had been held "hostage" by the left wing of his party. Loading Requiring citizens to speak competent English would allow them to "converse in community settings" and "converse more effectively in the workplace", Mr Dutton said.

Labor's decision to oppose the legislation means the government will need support from the Senate crossbench, which it will likely receive.