The Turnbull Government this morning announced a raft of changes to citizenship standards, the biggest changes in decades.
Permanent residents will now have to wait four years before sitting their citizenship test, and it will now include questions such as: "Is it permissible to force children to marry?" and, "Under what circumstances can you strike your spouse in the privacy of your own home?"
The required level of English will also be hugely increased.
But the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) believe the government should be giving more immigrants a helping hand.
"We should facilitate and make it easier for people to become part of the Australian society, rather than making it more difficult and putting more hurdles in front of them" FECCA chairperson Joe Caputo said.
"People want to get involved, they want to participate, and making it more difficult won't make this country any better than it is.
"If you create the opportunities and make it easier for people to get involved... this is the history of this country. It's why Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world."
Watch: PM announces new Citizenship rules
It's been suggested the changes implemented by Mr Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton are designed to target Muslims.
Mr Dutton rejected that suggestion this morning.
"I don't think we should target any community," Mr Caputo said.
"When we talk about great challenges like domestic violence and the like, no community can be singled out. They are challenges facing all communities, and we should ensure that no single community is targeted or isolated.
"We should call them for what they are - they are unacceptable, whether you're a third generation Australian or a recent arrival.
"The facts are that the realities of most new arrivals are concentrating on putting their heads down and making sure they survive in this new reality."
Watch: 'We can't see that the changes are necessary': Australian Refugee Council CEO
