Australians Abroad - Expat Life - When cats have more rights than Australians

As an Australian citizen having worked abroad in New Zealand, the United States and Canada, I often have time to reflect on relocation and immigration issues for not only myself but for my Australian-born silver tabby, Mullet.

Mullet doesn't do much other than bring some joy into people’s lives and remains a constant in my rapidly changing life. But lately, I've had a lot of time to consider some of the basic rights Mullet has and wish were the same for me.

You see Mullet like myself is well traveled and his work as my constant companion has taken him to many places in the world. He also works abroad catching birds (and probably doing some other forms of ecological damage that I don't know about) and is geographically flexible. Meanwhile his owner works abroad in high technology marketing. We both travel for our jobs and both would like to return to Australia one-day.

So where's the imbalance in rights?

Well, for one Mullet will always be able to return to Australia.

So it's with interest that I find that my cat can move between any country in the world and be accepted - immediately - as a citizen of the world albeit with some paperwork and vaccinations.

Even though mon minou lives in Canada today and is a registered French-Canadian feline who knows a little French and a lot more Australian English: Australia would happily take him back at any time. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for myself. Indeed, should I ever become a citizen (citizen = registered in the cat world) of Canada as I'd like to: for reasons of better employment mobility and to take advantage of certain North America Free Trade agreement (NAFTA) benefits enjoyed by North Americans and dual citizens from around the world, I cannot.

He also doesn’t suffer at the hands of more-Xenophobic elements in the Australian community that would question his loyalties as a dual citizen. If my cat and I were disloyal, we would not wish to return home one-day, if only to retire and bring that foreign income home. Nor would we continue to support Australia by sending money home & visiting family even if only for a brief period. In fact to quote a statement from the preamble in the immigration policy document of the OneNation party of Australia "home is not where you were born, home is where you are prepared to die". Well, in my case that home is one in the same.

Unlike an Australian tabby, if I ever become a citizen of (registered in, for cats) another country, Australia will disown me.

Today, any Australian-born national person who moves abroad and acquires another citizenship will lose their Australian status automatically – section 17 of the Australian Citizenship Act (1948) sees to that! Meanwhile, my Aussie cat will be able to go back whenever feasible.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not an issue solely for the Christopher Skase's and Rupert Mudoch's in the world. In fact, current laws could allow them to "apply" to regain citizenship at any time. Essentially many honest business people like myself have opted not to give up their Australian status in the first place. In my opinion, those people who did either knowingly or unwittingly, made a decision irrespective of the consequences. I’m not looking to resume my citizenship; I never want to lose it. It’s not a special privilege or status but something that those born overseas already have today including naturalized Australians born outside of the country. A change in Australian citizenship law could even conceivably be made in such a way that it is not retrospective to prevent our past abusers of the system from re-entering the country or manipulating its resources.

I and other organizations such as Australians Abroad are lobbying for a fair-shake: for the same entitlement to dual citizenship that millions of foreign-born Australians enjoy today. If I were born in Canada, the United States or even France, I could be a dual citizen, for example a Canadian-Australian if born in Canada, but today it is impossible to be an Australian-Canadian.

Essentially, we would like what my cat has - the ability to live anywhere in the world, without special restrictions and with dignity. And we would like to be proud ambassadors to our home country and first home - Australia. So you see, what I hope is that - one day, sooner than later- I will have the same fair-go as my Australian-born cat and the millions of other foreign-born Australians who can work in their chosen field and country without being disadvantaged and still (legally) call Australia home.

Jason Caley
Quebec, Canada
July 2001

You can email Jason at JasonCaley@netscape.net