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Australian Citizenship Test

Chapter 4

Australian values

The values all Australians share. Five test questions come from this section and every one of them must be answered correctly.

Test yourself on this chapter

Australian values and the Rule of Law

Australian values based on freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity are central to the community remaining a secure, prosperous and peaceful place to live. Australian laws apply to all people in Australia, so regardless of your background or culture you must follow them. All Australians are protected by the laws and legal systems, and Australians recognise the importance of laws in maintaining a peaceful and orderly society. Under the Rule of Law all Australians are equal in relation to the law and no person or group is above the law; everybody should obey the law and not break it at any time, and you should follow the law even if no one is watching.

Testable facts

  • Australian values are based on freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity
  • Australian laws apply to all people in Australia, regardless of background or culture
  • All Australians are protected by Australia's laws and legal systems
  • Under the Rule of Law all Australians are equal in relation to the law and no person or group is above the law
  • You should follow the law even if no one is watching
  • Australian citizenship is about living out Australian values in your everyday life and in your local community

Parliamentary democracy as a value

Australia's system of government is a parliamentary democracy. Laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, which means Australian citizens are involved in how the country is governed. The power of the government comes from the Australian people because Australian citizens vote for people to represent them in parliament. Voting is compulsory in Australia, which shows the importance of participating in elections.

Testable facts

  • Australia's laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people
  • Australian citizens are involved in how the country is governed
  • Voting is compulsory in Australia, which shows the importance of participating in elections

Freedom of speech and freedom of association as values

People in Australia should be able to express their ideas freely, so long as it is within the law. People are free to meet in public or private places for social or political discussion, to say and write what they think about any topic, and newspapers, television and radio outlets have the same freedom. Australians are allowed to protest peacefully against the actions of the government, because tolerance of peaceful public protest is an essential part of democracy. It is never acceptable to promote violence against another person or group of people, and it is illegal to make false allegations or encourage others to break the law. People are free to join or leave any group voluntarily as long as it is within the law, and individuals cannot be compelled to join an organisation or forced to leave it.

Testable facts

  • People in Australia should be able to express their ideas freely, so long as it is within the law
  • Newspapers, television and radio outlets have the same freedom of speech as individuals
  • Australians are allowed to peacefully protest against the actions of the government
  • Tolerance of peaceful public protest is an essential part of democracy
  • It is never acceptable to promote violence against another person or group of people
  • It is illegal to make false allegations or encourage others to break the law
  • Other people's freedom of speech and freedom of expression must be respected, as long as such expression is lawful
  • In Australia people are free to join or leave any group voluntarily as long as it is within the law
  • Individuals cannot be compelled to join an organisation or forced to leave it
  • All protests must be within the law, which means they must be peaceful and must not injure any person or damage property

Freedom of religion as a value

Australia has no official national religion and people are free to follow any religion they choose. The government treats all citizens equally, whatever their religion or beliefs, but religious practices must not break Australian laws. Religious laws have no legal status in Australia, and Australian law must be followed by everyone in Australia including where it differs from religious laws. Some religious or cultural practices, such as polygamy and forced marriage, are against the law in Australia and can result in severe legal penalties including imprisonment. Religious intolerance is not acceptable in Australian society.

Testable facts

  • Australia has no official national religion and people are free to follow any religion they choose
  • The government treats all citizens equally, whatever their religion or beliefs
  • Religious practices must not break Australian laws
  • Religious laws have no legal status in Australia
  • Australian law must be followed by everyone in Australia, including where it is different from religious laws
  • Polygamy, being married to more than one person at the same time, is against the law in Australia
  • Forced marriage is against the law in Australia and can result in severe legal penalties, including imprisonment
  • Religious intolerance is not acceptable in Australian society

Equality of all people under the law

Australian society values the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race, or national or ethnic origin, and a number of laws protect a person from being treated differently from others. The law is applied so that people from different backgrounds are not given preferential treatment nor discriminated against. Under Australian law two people can marry each other, including marriage between two men or two women. Men and women have equal rights and equal access to education and employment, can vote at elections, stand for parliament, join the Australian Defence Force and the police force, and are treated equally in courts of law. Both men and women have the right to make their own independent choices about personal matters such as marriage and religion. Physical violence against a spouse or partner is never acceptable and is a criminal offence. Divorce is acceptable in Australia and either a husband or a wife may apply to the courts for one, even if the other spouse wishes to continue the marriage.

Testable facts

  • Australian society values the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race, or national or ethnic origin
  • The law is applied in Australia so that people from different backgrounds are not given preferential treatment, nor discriminated against
  • Under Australian law two people can marry each other, including marriage between two men or two women
  • Men and women have equal rights in Australia
  • Men and women have equal access to education and employment, can vote at elections, stand for parliament, join the Australian Defence Force and the police force, and are treated equally in courts of law
  • Both men and women have the right to make their own independent choices about personal matters such as marriage and religion
  • Physical violence against a spouse or partner is never acceptable and is a criminal offence in Australia
  • Divorce is acceptable in Australia
  • Either a husband or a wife may apply for a divorce to the courts, even if the other spouse wishes to continue the marriage
  • It is a right for a woman to get a job ahead of a man if she has better qualifications and skills

Equality of opportunity and a fair go as a value

Australians believe that everyone deserves a ‘fair go’ and that people should not be limited by any kind of class distinction. Everyone, regardless of their background, is given an equal opportunity to achieve success in life, and ensuring that everyone has the same legal rights is an important aspect of fairness in Australian society. What someone achieves in life should be a result of their hard work and talents, which means a person should get a job based on their skills and experience rather than their gender, wealth or ethnicity. When an organisation needs to fill a job, the law supports selecting the person with the best skills and experience. Many new migrants have become leaders in business, their profession, the arts, public service and sport through hard work and enterprise.

Testable facts

  • Australians believe that everyone deserves a 'fair go' and should not be limited by any kind of class distinction
  • Everyone, regardless of their background, is given an equal opportunity to achieve success in life
  • Ensuring that everyone has the same legal rights is an important aspect of fairness in Australian society
  • What someone achieves in life should be a result of their hard work and talents
  • A person should get a job based on their skills and experience, not because of their gender, wealth or ethnicity
  • When an organisation needs to fill a job, the law supports selecting the person with the best skills and experience
  • Many new migrants in Australia have become leaders in business, their profession, the arts, public service and sport through their hard work and enterprise

Mutual respect and tolerance for others

In Australia individuals must respect the freedom and dignity of others, and their opinions and choices. It is against the law to be violent towards another person, and violence of any kind including verbal and physical abuse is illegal. Australians believe in peaceful disagreement and above all in the right to be safe and free from violence and intimidation. There are very strict laws concerning the age of sexual consent, which is 16 or 17 depending on which state or territory you reside in. The lawful actions of the police should be supported, and you should obey a lawful request from the police. Mutual respect and tolerance means listening to others and respecting their views and opinions even when they differ from your own. Racism has no place in Australia, including creating or sharing racially offensive material on the internet and making racially abusive comments in a public place or at a sporting event.

Testable facts

  • In Australia individuals must respect the freedom and dignity of others, and their opinions and choices
  • It is against the law to be violent towards another person
  • Violence of any kind, including verbal and physical abuse, is illegal in Australia
  • Australians believe in peaceful disagreement and in the right to be safe and free from violence and intimidation
  • The age of sexual consent in Australia is 16 or 17 depending on which state or territory you reside in
  • The lawful actions of the police should be supported, and you should obey a lawful request from the police
  • Mutual respect and tolerance means listening to others and respecting their views and opinions even when they are different from your own
  • Racism has no place in Australia
  • Creating or sharing racially offensive material on the internet is not acceptable in Australia
  • Making racially abusive comments in a public place or at a sporting event is not acceptable in Australia

Compassion, mateship and making a contribution

Citizenship gives you the opportunity to fully participate in the nation's life and community, and Australians expect everyone living in Australia to participate in society and make a contribution. Everyone has a responsibility to try to support themselves and their families when they are able to do so. Australians value ‘mateship’ and help each other in times of need — taking a meal to an elderly neighbour, driving a friend to a medical appointment, or visiting someone who is sick, frail or lonely. In this spirit Australia has a strong tradition of community service and volunteering, which is also an opportunity to share knowledge, learn new skills and increase your sense of belonging to the Australian community.

Testable facts

  • Australians expect everyone living in Australia to participate in society and make a contribution to the community
  • Everyone has a responsibility to try and support themselves and their families when they are able to do so
  • Australians value 'mateship' and help each other in times of need
  • Australia has a strong tradition of community service and volunteering
  • Volunteering is an opportunity to share knowledge, learn new skills and increase your sense of belonging to the Australian community

English as the national language

Australian society values the English language as the national language of Australia and as an important unifying element of society, and people living in Australia should make an effort to learn English. Learning English helps in getting an education and a job and in integrating into the community, and it is essential for economic participation and social cohesion. Applicants for Australian citizenship must undertake to make reasonable efforts to learn the English language if it is not their native language.

Testable facts

  • Australian society values the English language as the national language of Australia
  • English is an important unifying element of Australian society
  • People living in Australia should make an effort to learn English
  • Learning English helps to get an education and a job and to better integrate into the community
  • English is essential for economic participation and social cohesion
  • Applicants for Australian citizenship must undertake to make reasonable efforts to learn the English language if it is not their native language

Helping to keep our society safe and loyalty to Australia

Everyone in Australia has responsibilities to help protect Australian society: if people suspect a friend or neighbour may be planning to commit a serious crime they should report it to Australian government authorities as soon as possible, and anyone who sees or knows of a child being abused should report it to the police. Online abuse, sometimes called cyber abuse, is not accepted in Australia; examples include sharing sexual photos or videos online without consent, stalking a person online, and making racially abusive comments about a person online, and many forms of cyber abuse are illegal. In the citizenship pledge Australian citizens pledge their loyalty to Australia and its people. Citizens may also hold the citizenship of another country if that country's laws allow, which is known as dual or multiple citizenship, but an Australian citizen within Australia must follow all Australian laws at all times. Some Australian laws must also be followed overseas: for example it is illegal for Australians to be involved in any sexual activity, here or overseas, with a child under 16 years of age.

Testable facts

  • People in Australia who suspect a friend or neighbour may be planning a serious crime should report it to Australian government authorities as soon as possible
  • A person who sees or has knowledge of a child being abused should report this to the police
  • Online abuse, sometimes called cyber abuse, is not accepted in Australia
  • Examples of cyber abuse include sharing sexual photos or videos online without consent, stalking a person online, and making racially abusive comments about a person online
  • Many forms of cyber abuse are illegal in Australia
  • In the citizenship pledge Australian citizens pledge their loyalty to Australia and its people
  • Australian citizens may hold the citizenship of another country if the laws of that country allow, known as dual or multiple citizenship
  • An Australian citizen within Australia must follow all Australian laws at all times
  • It is illegal for Australians to be involved in any sexual activity, here or overseas, with a child under 16 years of age
  • Australian society is based on shared obligations not to undermine Australia's interests and security

This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorised by the government of Australia. Practice questions are written from the official study guide and are not the real exam questions. No government publishes those.