Hi prof, I’m Irish and recently moved to australia and i know that a lot of the Irish are racist and unwelcoming to newcomers in our country. However, both myself and my boyfriend have experienced and witnessed racism here aimed at the Irish and English especially demonstrated through exploitation in the workplace. I wont get into it all, but people have this painted pretty picture of Australia. Yes, the money’s better, but racism can be found everywhere. All I’m pointing out is that Ireland isn’t the only country with racism issues.

Best of luck to every one of them.

Worth pointing out that if this was a story about 230 people getting Irish citizenship you’d have the ‘let’s take care of our own first’ crew out in force. It truly amazes me that any Irish person has the cheek to moan about inward migration give our history and our present.

Here it is:
The Australian Citizenship Pledge

From this time forward, (Optional: under God),
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Way to go ….!! :)

I became an Aussie citizen 2 years ago. Trust me you DON’T have to swear an oath of allegiance to the queen. I’ve been hear 14 years and would find it hard to settle back at home. I love Australia but I miss my family and its a constant struggle between the two. Good luck to all the new citizens today. Happy Australia Day.

Ah G’day..

When a government doesn’t listen to the voters, the makers will leave.

@ professor Mehoop
The Irish nation owes me nothing. I don’t expect any nation to “provide” for me. I provide for myself. I want the Irish nation/state/gov to have as little interference as possible in my life. The sense of entitlement among all sectors of Irish society over past 15 years or so is mind boggling.

I CHOSE to live in Ireland because it is one of the most beautiful places on earth – and all the people I have come across have been warm, inviting and willing to help me when I don’t know where to go or where to get something – the Irish I have met have been, with exception, great and I have made some lifelong friends amongst the Irish.

Sadly the Irish seem to think that Australia is still the land of milk and honey with gold in every field! The truth is that sure wages are high but that is because the cost of living is ENORMOUS – and wages have not kept up!

I have experienced racism in Australia from school upwards – it is not pleasant and as a first generation Australian it broke my heart because my parents were so grateful to the Aus govt for giving them a home when they had none – but the Australia of my parents day no longer exists!

Now it is a mini-me of America with all their good and bad points……..

Interesting discussion. Last summer in Ireland I was told that even with an Irish passport, I would have to be two years in Ireland before I could get any aid if needed. Yet refugees, asylum seekers and newly released prisoners get rental allowance as well the dole. A lot more Irish and Irish passport holders would return if they knew there was a bit of help if needed.

Cheers prof. Yeah it should all work out in time :-)

Me and my family are off to Oz in ten days. We moved here from London ten years ago and planned to stay for life, but the lure of an economy that isn’t completely fecked just got too much. My husband was born there, but I look forward to getting my citizenship in four years time.

And they’ll be seen and treated as Aussies straight away, not like our own “foreign” citizens here.

Here it is, the exact wording of :
The Australian Citizenship Pledge

From this time forward, (Optional: under God,)
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.

How I envy them I lived there for a few,years and wonder why I ever returned.

230 Paddies lining up to take an oath to the queen of UK(and its overseas territories) . Australian citizenship will fit them hand in glove. Each to their own but I personally would never take an oath of allegiance to UK queen. I don’t want to get stroppy but technical they are becoming subjects to Australia’s beloved head of state – i.e. queen of UK.

You can be 100% sure that these 230 people are highly educated with skills that are in demand in Australia which is why they get citizenship.
They need police reports, character references and health tests to go along with their visa applications.
We only give citizenship to those in sham marriages, bogus asylum seekers and those who had a generation of kids just to stay in the country. Those who would be of benefit to Ireland economically and socially have to jump through hoops while we let the spongers in.

Australia is laughing at us!

David Patrick has gone quiet !!! Thank fk he’s wrong. ..

I would never give up my citizenship of this country nor would I dilute it, no mater how much the country has let its people down over the past 6or 7 years, but I wish them the best ..

@Painey Magee
NO! You check YOUR facts.
Australian citizenship oat: I, A.B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her heirs and successors according to law. SO HELP ME GOD!