Australian values

Values define and shape Australia, and citizenship means living them out in everyday life. That is why the test requires every values question to be correct: one wrong answer is a fail, even if your overall score is high.

When unsure, look for the answer that respects the law and the rights of other people. Freedoms in Australia always apply within the law.

All Australians are protected by, and equal under, the law. No person or group is above it. Everyone should obey the law at all times, even if no one is watching, or face penalties. Australian laws apply to all people in Australia, whatever their background or culture.

Laws are made by parliaments elected by the people, so government power comes from Australian citizens. Voting is compulsory, which shows how important it is to take part in elections.

People can express ideas freely, meet for social or political discussion and peacefully protest against the government. It is never acceptable to promote violence against anyone, and it is illegal to make false allegations or encourage others to break the law.

People may join or leave any legal group and cannot be forced to join or leave. Protests must be peaceful and must not injure people or damage property.

There is no official national religion and the government treats all religions equally. Religious laws have no legal status: Australian law must be followed where they differ. Polygamy and forced marriage are illegal and can lead to imprisonment. Religious intolerance is not acceptable.

Everyone has equal rights regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race, or national or ethnic origin. No one gets preferential treatment and no one is discriminated against. For example, people of every faith receive the same treatment. Two people can marry, including two men or two women.

Men and women have equal rights, equal access to education and jobs, and are treated equally in court. A woman can get a job ahead of a man if she has better qualifications. Both can make their own choices about marriage and religion. Violence against a spouse or partner is a crime, and either partner may apply for a divorce.

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of background, and should not be limited by class. What people achieve should come from hard work and talent. Jobs should go to the person with the best skills and experience, not because of gender, wealth or ethnicity.

Respect other people’s freedom, dignity, opinions and choices, and listen to views different from your own. Violence of any kind, including verbal abuse, is illegal; Australians believe in peaceful disagreement and the right to be safe.

Racism has no place in Australia, including racist material online and racial abuse in public. Lawful actions of police should be supported and lawful requests obeyed. The age of sexual consent is 16 or 17 depending on the state or territory.

Part 4 also describes how Australians contribute to and protect their community.