New Australians to face test on ‘core values’

New Australians will be granted citizenship only after answering questions testing their knowledge of the country’s core values | SEE THE QUESTIONS

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge. Picture: Getty Images

New Australians will be granted citizenship only after answering questions testing their knowledge of the country’s core values — ­including freedom of speech, ­religion and association.

In the first major overhaul of the citizenship test in more than a decade, prospective Australians will be forced to sit an updated test from November 15 and accurately answer all questions on key ­national values.

Earlier proposals to toughen English language and residency requirements through the citizenship testing process were dropped by the Morrison government for a set of questions probing new citizens on their knowledge of Australia’s democratic rights and values.

Updated advice in the Department of Home Affairs “Our Common Bond” booklet tells pro­spective citizens “Australian values based on freedom, ­respect, fairness and equality of opportunity” are central for a prosperous and peaceful ­community.

The values are identified as commitment to the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion, equality of all people under the law, equality of opportunity and a fair go and mutual respect and tolerance.

The revamped citizenship questions focus heavily on ­religious, cultural and language differences and expectations of new Australian citizens.

They include whether new citizens think people should make an effort to learn English, and they challenge them on the appropriateness of arranged marriages, ­violence against women and people who “insult” them, whether ­religious law overrides Australian law, and the importance of federal and state voting rights.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge — who timed the ­announcement to coincide with more than 100 ceremonies being held across the country on Thursday for Citizenship Day — said: “Australian values are important. They have helped shape our country and they are the reason why so many people want to become Australian citizens.

“The updated citizenship test will have new and more meaningful questions that require potential citizens to understand and commit to our values like freedom of speech, mutual respect, equality of opportunity, the importance of democracy and the rule of law.”

To pass the new test, applicants must answer 75 per cent of the 20 multiple-choice questions, and correctly answer all questions on Australian values.

Mr Tudge said the Morrison government wanted new citizens to “understand our values more deeply before they make the ultimate commitment to our nation”.

In 2019-20, 204,817 people were conferred Australian citizenship, the highest number on record. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 95,000 people were conferred Australian citizenship, 85,000 of them online. From ­October 30, most new visa and citizenship applicants will be ­required to affirm the updated Australian Values Statement.

Explaining the statement to prospective new citizens, the Home Affairs advice states that “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. This means regardless of your background or culture, you must follow Australian laws,” it states.

It also states there is no “official national religion” in Australia and all people are free to “follow any religion they choose”.

“Religious laws have no legal status in Australia. Some religious or cultural practices, such as polygamy and force marriage, are against the law … and can result in severe legal penalties including imprisonment.”

On equal rights, the advice said “Buddhists and people of all other faiths receive the same treatment as Christians” and that women had the right to “make their own independent choices about personal matters such as marriage and religion”. It tells new citizens that “it is never acceptable to promote violence against another person or group of people … ­because it is against Australian values and laws”.