<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Coalition leader </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/peter-dutton" rel="" target="_blank" title="Peter Dutton"><span>Peter Dutton</span></a><span> is considering pushing to hold a referendum over deporting convicted criminals who hold dual citizenships.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The poll, if approved by the public, would amend the constitution to give the federal government the right to strip convicted dual national criminals of their Australian citizenship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Senior Coalition sources confirmed to Nine newspaper </span><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-wants-referendum-on-giving-politicians-ability-to-deport-dual-citizens-20250314-p5ljol.html" rel="" target="_blank" title="The Age"><em><span>The Age</span></em></a><span> Dutton is considering the referendum as a serious prospect if he wins the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/federal-election-2025" rel="" target="_blank" title="upcoming federal election."><span>upcoming federal election.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/court-puts-a-temporary-hold-on-releasing-records-related-to-the-deaths-of-gene-hackman-and-his-wife/86371b7a-7259-49ce-af85-df26e4e20c1c" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Possibly shocking': Court twist in death of Gene Hackman and his wife</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A decision has reportedly not been made whether Dutton will officially announce the plans during the May campaign.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dutton previously called for tougher citizenship-stripping laws following a video filmed </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nurse-charged-over-alleged-antisemitic-video-bankstown-hospital/00b0f44c-49de-4bdb-a877-4b1de1a2bf82" rel="" target="_blank" title="by two Sydney nurses where they allegedly claimed they wouldn't treat Israeli patients"><span>by two Sydney nurses where they allegedly claimed they wouldn't treat Israeli patients</span></a><span> in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think it's a conversation for our country at some point, maybe sooner than later, about how we can say to these people, 'If you don't share our values, if you're here and you're enjoying the welfare system and you're enjoying free health and free education, then at the same time you hate our country, well, I don't think you've got a place here'," Dutton told 2GB at the time.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/peter-dutton-plans-for-referendum-to-deport-criminals-with-dual-australian-citizenship/11f920db-b90c-43f8-990e-1ca92cd0f308" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under current laws, the Commonwealth can apply to the court to strip a dual national person of their Australian citizenship if they have committed a serious offence and have been sentenced to more than three years behind bars. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In order for this to happen the person needs to demonstrate they have "repudiated their allegiance to Australia," The Department of Home Affairs states.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/heavy-rain-potential-floods-tropical-north-queensland-continues/10ad0dd6-66dc-40cb-8853-e9e6b766bfd9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Queensland warned of floods with triple-digit falls forecast</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/search-for-us-student-in-dominican-republic-intensifies-with-witness-account/24304920-4390-4bc3-afcc-131d314c3e7a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Search for US student in Dominican Republic intensifies with witness account</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A High Court ruling in 2022 also found it unconstitutional for ministers to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The proposed referendum follows a similar proposal by former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott in 2015 to strip Australian terrorists of their citizenship, even those who aren't dual nationals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shortly following reports of Dutton's plans for a referendum, senior shadow minister Michaelia Cash said there were "no plans" for such a vote but was keeping "all options on the table".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rubbished Dutton's proposal as a "thought bubble" and pointed out the Opposition Leader has been a vocal critic of holding referendums following the Voice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Well, this is another thought bubble from Peter Dutton that hasn't made it to lunchtime," the PM said at a doorstep interview in Queensland today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Thought bubbles aimed at taking some things that might have occurred in other countries, aimed at dividing people," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's the second referendum that he's called for. At the same time as he criticises referendums that he voted for."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers also criticised the referendum proposal as "bizarre".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He quite bizarrely wants another referendum," Chalmers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't think this idea will last long, just like a lot of the other things that he said, in an effort to try and avoid talking about the economy, and his cuts."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au" rel="" target="" title="9news.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span> has contacted Dutton's office for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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