Sharma and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Citizenship)

This matter concerned an application for citizenship by conferral by a 24-year-old man born in Fiji, who arrived in Australia in 2008 and was later granted a permanent visa. The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection had refused the application. The applicant sought a review of this decision before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The core of the dispute revolved around the applicant's character, as evidenced by a history of driving offences between 2011 and 2016, including driving unlicensed and accumulating numerous demerit points.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant was of "good character" at the time of the Minister's decision, as stipulated by section 21(2) of the *Australian Citizenship Act 1948* (Cth). This involved interpreting the meaning of "good character" in the context of citizenship applications and considering whether the applicant's past conduct demonstrated the necessary enduring moral qualities. The Tribunal also had to consider the guidance provided by the Minister's Australian Citizenship Instructions and the Australian Citizenship Policy regarding character assessments.

The Tribunal reasoned that "good character" refers to a person's enduring moral qualities, not merely their reputation, and that these qualities must be demonstrated objectively over a sufficient period. While the Act does not define "good character," case law indicates it requires an aggregate of qualities. The Tribunal noted that the applicant's driving offences, particularly those involving driving unlicensed and accumulating significant demerit points, were relevant to assessing his character. The Tribunal's ultimate decision and orders are not detailed in the provided text.