Australian dual nationals won’t be banned from the US

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australian dual nationals won’t be banned from the US

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australian dual nationals will be able to travel to the US. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Charis Chang news.com.au

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that Australian dual nationals will not be stopped from entering the United States.

Mr Turnbull said confirmation had come from US National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn this morning that Australian dual nationals would be able to travel to the US in the same way they were prior to Donald Trump’s executive order.

“I’ve just received that official confirmation,” he told SkyNews.

“Australian passport holders will be able to travel to the US in the same way as they were able to prior to the executive order.”

Mr Trump’s immigration ban stopped people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US. This included those who held joint citizenship from those countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

The order has caused widespread confusion over who is able to travel to the US, with a Melbourne schoolboy being denied a visa on Monday to attend a space camp.

In explaining the exemption, Mr Turnbull said Australia had a “strong relationship” with the US.

He also addressed criticism about his reluctance to condemn Mr Trump’s ban, saying he was it the national interest to reserve his comments on American domestic policy for private discussions.

“My job as Prime Minister of Australia is to advance the national interest of Australia and protect the interests of Australian citizens,” he said.

“When I need to give frank advice, fearless advice, to the United States Government, I do so privately.

“But I don’t comment on American domestic policy publicly, my job is to get results for Australians.”

Yesterday Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she would be seeking an exemption from the Trump administration for dual Australian citizens impacted by the ban, similar to the exemption granted to UK and Canadian citizens.