Many thanks once again for your support in signing and sharing this petition.

To date we are still gathering further support and signatures so please spread the word so that we can make positive change to the citizenship debacle for those of us born in Papua and New Guinea before 1975 independence.

I think I can safely assume that you have either been impacted directly through family or indirectly through friends who have found themselves being questioned about their citizenship status.  They are told “you are not a citizen” and then they have had to prove otherwise by producing a mound of evidentiary documentation.  I know of several people who have been in this situation and it’s an emotional punch in the face to be assaulted with this when you have lived the life of an Australian citizen since birth.

The Australian government would have you believe that the PNG Constitution stripped us of our citizenship.  That’s only half of the story because they are not considering the Australian Citizenship Act 1958. However, if you want to prove a legal point then it is up to you to spend the money on legal representation.  The Government has its own in house legal team as well as an eminent legal firm.  They are happy to spend taxpayer money to fight its good citizens. For the average person this is an expensive exercise, lengthy, emotionally taxing and all consuming.  A David v Goliath battle.

One such person who has taken the Government to court is Mr L (sorry I can’t publish his name until I get the go ahead) and it has cost him dearly: financially and emotionally.  We are still waiting for the Judge to recall the case and hand down a judgement….since 1 November 2019.  It’s anybody’s guess when this will happen. 

The High Court case of Daniel Love and Brendan Thoms to prove that Aboriginals are not Aliens and are entitled to Australian citizenship has had two hearings and both times the judgement has been reserved.  Meanwhile those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are detained in onshore facilities remain in limbo. 

Please visit the facebook page Australian Citizens Born in Papua and New Guinea for further information.  You can post your story on this page.  Here is a link to my family’s drama: https://www.smh.com.au/national/bloody-devastated-family-members-of-aviation-pioneer-have-citizenship-challenged-20181101-p50dgl.html

Thanks again

Vitoula