Help with dual citizenship: Irish/Australian?

Question

I am an Aussie who is able to obtain a dual passport. I lost my AUssie one, have reported it lost and am now about to be sent my Irish one.

I just found this information online:

"I have dual Irish/Australian nationality, but have not obtained an Australian passport. Can I travel back to Australia on my Irish passport?

No. By law Australian citizens must use their Australian passport to enter Australia. See above for information on how to apply for an Australian passport."

@ http://www.ireland.embassy.gov.au/dubl/consular.html

Am I understanding this correctly... do I need to also obtain an Australian Passport so that I will be allowed back into Australia if I go to Europe? If so, must I apply for that while I'm still in Australia?

Thankyou so much (in advance) for clarifying a confusing predicament.

Answer 1

Normally, you need to evidence that you are an Australian in order to enter Australia without the requirement of a visa.  Passport is the best instrument to provide the evidence at the immigration.  

You can also apply for passport overseas at the Australian Embassy before you start the journal to travel to Australia.  However, applying for passport overseas takes a longer period as the passport needs to be made at Canberra and posted to the Embassy.

Answer 2

Yes, you need both. The US has the same rule - to travel back into the US I need to have a US passport even if I also hold an Irish one.

Try your embassy if you are in Ireland - they usually have a sped up passport option (for an extra fee of course)

Answer 3

As an Australia citizen, to enter or exit Australia you should use your Australian passport.  If you try to enter on your Irish passport, you'll probably have to get a visa anyway.  But technically, it's breaking the law.

You should be able to get an Australian passport at the Australian Embassy in Ireland fairly easy.  You don't need to be in Australia to apply for a passport.  It took them three days to renew mine when I was in Malaysia.