Our Common Bond study notes · Part 4: Australian values
Australian Values
In the test you must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly, in addition to scoring at least 75% overall. Part 4 is therefore worth studying most carefully.
Key facts for the test
- •All 5 values questions must be correct to pass the test
- •Religious laws have no legal status; polygamy and forced marriage are illegal
- •Two people can marry each other, including two men or two women
- •Age of sexual consent: 16 or 17 depending on the state or territory
- •Mateship: helping each other in times of need
Rule of Law, democracy and freedoms
Australian laws apply to everyone in Australia regardless of background or culture, and should be followed even when no one is watching. Citizens take part in government through compulsory voting. People are free to express their ideas within the law and to protest peacefully, but promoting violence against any person or group is never acceptable and is illegal. People may join or leave any legal group. Religious laws have no legal status in Australia, and practices such as polygamy and forced marriage are against the law.
Equality of all people
Everyone has equal rights regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race or national or ethnic origin. Two people can marry each other, including two men or two women. Men and women have equal access to education, jobs, voting, parliament, the Defence Force and the police. Both may make independent choices about marriage and religion, violence against a spouse or partner is a criminal offence, and either partner may apply for a divorce.
A fair go, mutual respect and tolerance
Jobs should go to the person with the best skills and experience, not based on gender, wealth or ethnicity. Violence of any kind, verbal or physical, is illegal. The age of sexual consent is 16 or 17 depending on the state or territory. Lawful requests from the police should be obeyed. Racism has no place in Australia, including racially offensive material online and racial abuse at public or sporting events.
Our community
Everyone is expected to contribute and to support themselves and their family where they can. Mateship means helping each other in times of need, and volunteering is a strong tradition. English is the national language and a unifying element, so people should make an effort to learn it. Residents should report suspected serious crime or child abuse to the authorities, and many forms of online abuse are illegal. Citizens pledge loyalty to Australia; dual citizenship is possible if the other country allows it, but Australian law must always be followed in Australia.
Summarised in our own words from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, Department of Home Affairs, licensed under CC BY 4.0. This is not an official publication.
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