Have you had a look at department reports?
http://www.immi.gov.au
In the reports, citizenship is
* outcome #2 for 07-08 and before
* outcome #6 from 09-10 onwards....
The approval rate for application for citizenship by conferral is falling without explanation:
05-06 96.8% (86.2% of applicants approved on the day of lodgement)
06-07 96.2% (26.1% of applicants approved on the day of lodgement)
1 October 2007 - The first version of the citizenship test was introduced.
07-08 91% (23% of applicants approved on the day of lodgement)
08-09 92.5% (19.7% of applicants approved on the day of lodgement)
19 October 2009 - The second version of the citizenship test was introduced.
09-10 92%
30 June 2010 - Transitional residence requirements ended. Number of applicants fell 32%.
10-11 87.9%
11-12 84.7%
So, the low approval rate is due to the test...???
http://inside.org.au/citizenship-for-beginners/
I don't think so. Look at 11-12 number
http://www.immi.gov.au/about/reports/annual/2011-12/html/performance/outcome_6/decisions_on_citizenship_status.htm
People approved for conferral of Australian citizenship = 95 776
71 662 clients sat the Australian citizenship test
70 744 clients (or 98.7 per cent) passed the test
87 101 tests were administered, including re-sits where clients did not pass the test on their first attempt.
There must be a reason?
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:committees%2Festimate%2Fecomd890928a_ece.out%2F0031
SENATOR DURACK -What is the rejection rate of those who apply for citizenship?
SENATOR ROBERT RAY -Very trivial; a criminal record would be one of the reasons. I suppose the highest rejection rate relates to those who do not meet the two-year qualification period, or the qualifications under the Act.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508645
+ there is scope in policy to defer grant of citizenship to those with business skill visas that are potentially subject to cancellation.