Citizenship test unveiled

August 26, 2007 - 2:30PM

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A new citizenship test will ensure Australia strikes the right balance between diversity and integration of people hoping to become Australian, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says. The government today released a 40-page draft guide detailing what it regards as the 10 essential Australian values every aspiring citizen must embrace.

The pamphlet, which will be handed to all new citizenship applicants, also summarises the nation's history, its political institutions, economic, cultural and indigenous history.

But in order to become a citizen, migrants will need to correctly answer at least 12 out of 20 questions, such as how members of parliament are chosen and the year in which European settlement of Australia began.

"One of great achievements of Australia has been to balance two things: Firstly the diversity of people that have come from more than 200 countries around the world and secondly, the sense of integrating into one socially cohesive society," Mr Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

"This is part of the government's emphasis that we continue to get that balance between diversity and integration correct in future, particularly as we now draw people from so many different countries and so many different cultures."

Migrants would also need to demonstrate an adequate level of understanding of the English language if they were to realise their aspirations, Mr Andrews said.



Sample questions for Australian citizenship exams in the federal government's draft Becoming An Australian Citizen workbook:
1. In what year did Federation take place?
2. Which day of the year is Australia Day?
3. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?
4. What is the first line of Australia's national anthem?
5. What is the floral emblem of Australia?
6. What is the population of Australia?
8. Who is the Queen's representative in Australia?
9. How are Members of Parliament chosen?
10. Who do Members of Parliament represent?
12. What are the colours on the Australian flag?
13. Who is the head of the Australian Government?
14. What are the three levels of government in Australia?



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