Peter Dutton's call for the citizenship test to be revamped - with a boosted focus on social integration and Australian values rather than "trivia" on history and government - has been greeted with scepticism by community groups, who argue that the citizenship process should not risk demonising or unfairly targeting people.

The Immigration Minister said he wants a debate on the test to weed out "a minority who are on a pathway to citizenship that we need to have a closer look at", including people involved in gang activity, crime and terrorism.

"We need to see whether people are abiding by Australian laws, whether they are educating their children, if they are able-bodied and of working age, whether or not they are engaged in work or whether they have had a long period of time on welfare," he told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"At the moment, the test is dictated essentially by questions around Australian trivia, if you like," he said. "And my view is that we could look at a test that would more embrace Australian values."