Wang and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (Citizenship)

This matter concerned an application for citizenship by conferral made by the Applicant, Mr Wang, which had been refused by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. The refusal was based on the Applicant not being considered a person of good character, as required by section 21(2)(h) of the *Australian Citizenship Act 2007* (Cth). The Administrative Appeals Tribunal was tasked with reviewing this decision.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the Applicant was a person of good character at the time of the Tribunal's decision, notwithstanding a past domestic violence offence and a failure to disclose it. The Tribunal had to consider the seriousness of the offence, the time elapsed since the offending, and any subsequent evidence of rehabilitation and good conduct.

The Tribunal, presided over by Senior Member Mrs J C Kelly, considered all the evidence presented, including the Applicant's history both before and after the domestic violence incident, as well as additional evidence relating to his employment. The Tribunal was satisfied that the Applicant had demonstrated he was a person of good character at the time of the decision. Consequently, the Tribunal set aside the original reviewable decision.