Ross and John meet the Irish woman who Australia says can’t speak English

Lucy Kennedy has spoken English all her life.

She’s a vet who has completed degrees in history and politics – all in English.

But we – Australia, that is – have decided she doesn’t speak English well enough to become an Australian.

“It was the one exam in my entire life I wasn’t nervous about!”
– Lucy Kennedy

How?

She failed the oral section of the permanent residency exam.

The test is run by voice recognition technology. The company who runs the system has told the BBC there’s nothing wrong with their technology.

Now Lucy, who’s married to Australian man and soon to give birth to an Australian child, has had to scrap plans for a skilled migrant visa and instead aim for a spousal visa.

Ross and John chatted with Lucy Kennedy this morning – Click PLAY to judge for yourself!