Australian citizenship test · Our Common Bond chapter 2 · 6 min read
Chapter 2: Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
Parliamentary democracy, the Rule of Law, living peacefully, freedom of speech, association and religion, equality and a fair go, and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Study notes for the Australian citizenship test.
Why this chapter matters
The pledge asks you to share Australia's democratic beliefs and respect its rights and liberties. This part of the booklet lists them, and it also sets out exactly what citizens must do and what citizenship lets them do. Those two lists are a favourite source of questions. Much of this chapter returns in Part 4 as Australian values, so learning it well helps with the values questions too.
Our democratic beliefs
- Parliamentary democracy: citizens vote for people to represent them in parliament, so the government's power comes from the people. Representatives must answer to the people at elections for their decisions.
- The Rule of Law: everyone is equal under the law. No person, group or religious rule is above it, and that includes government, community and religious leaders, business people and the police.
- Living peacefully: Australians value a stable, peaceful country. Change should come through discussion, peaceful persuasion and the democratic process. Violence is rejected as a way to change anyone's mind or the law.
- Respect for all individuals: every person has rights and equality under the law, and everyone should be treated with dignity whatever their race, origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, culture, politics, wealth or religion.
Our freedoms
| Freedom | What it means | The limit |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom of speech | Saying and writing what you think, criticising the government, protesting peacefully and campaigning to change laws | You must obey the law and respect other people's freedom of speech |
| Freedom of expression | Expressing views through art, film, music and literature, and meeting in public or private for social or political discussion | Always within the law |
| Freedom of association | Forming and joining lawful groups such as parties, unions, religious, cultural or social groups, or choosing not to join | No one can be forced to join; gatherings and protests must be peaceful, without injury or damage to property |
| Freedom of religion | Following any religion, or none | Religious practice must obey the law; where law and religious practice conflict, Australian law prevails |
Australia has a Judaeo-Christian heritage, and Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day are public holidays, but people of all the major religions live here. There is no official national religion, and the government is secular: it operates separately from churches and other religious bodies and treats all citizens equally.
Exam tip: freedom questions often add a twist, such as a protest that damages property or a religious practice that breaks the law. The freedom never covers breaking the law.
Our equalities
- Gender equality: men and women have equal rights, and discrimination because of gender is against the law.
- Laws also protect people from being treated differently because of their race, disability or age.
- Equality of opportunity and a 'fair go': what someone achieves should come from their talents, work and effort, not their wealth or background. This is why Australia has no formal class distinctions.
Responsibilities and privileges
| Responsibilities: what you give | Privileges: what you receive |
|---|---|
| Keep to Australia's laws | Vote at federal, state and territory elections and at referendums |
| Vote at federal, state and territory elections and at referendums | Apply for a child born abroad to become a citizen by descent |
| Defend Australia if the need arises | Apply for jobs in the Australian Public Service or the Australian Defence Force |
| Serve on a jury when called | Stand for election to parliament |
| Hold an Australian passport and return to Australia freely | |
| Get consular help from Australian officials when abroad |
Exam tip: voting is the only item on both lists.
More on the responsibilities
- Obeying the law applies to citizens and everyone else in Australia.
- Voting is required of citizens aged 18 or over in federal, state and territory elections and referendums. A referendum is a vote to change the Constitution. In some states voting in local government elections may not be compulsory.
- Defending Australia: joining the Defence Force is voluntary, but all citizens share the duty to defend the nation if it becomes necessary.
- Jury service: citizens aged 18 or over who are on the electoral roll can be called. A jury of ordinary men and women hears the evidence and decides whether a person is guilty, which helps keep the courts open and fair.
More on the privileges
- Public Service and Defence Force jobs: for example at Services Australia or the Australian Taxation Office, or in the Army, Navy or Air Force.
- Standing for parliament: open to citizens aged 18 or over who are not dual citizens, at federal, state or territory level.
- Passport and re-entry: citizens may live freely in Australia and return from overseas without a visa.
- Consular help: embassies, high commissions and consulates help citizens in need, for example in civil unrest or natural disasters, with emergency passports, or after an accident, serious illness or death. Abroad you must still obey that country's laws.
Taking part in society
Australia encourages active citizenship: joining local and community groups, volunteering, joining arts or cultural organisations and taking part in political life.
Paying tax is required by law. Tax is paid on income from work, business or investments, and on many goods and services. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) collects it. Taxes pay for healthcare and education funded by government, for defence, for roads and railways, and for social security. State and territory governments and local councils collect taxes too.
Check yourself
- What does the Rule of Law say about people in positions of power?
- Name the four freedoms in this chapter and one limit on each.
- Which item appears on both the responsibilities and the privileges list?
- Who can be called for jury service?
- Which two conditions must a citizen meet to stand for parliament?
FAQ
Is military service compulsory in Australia? No. Service in the Defence Force is voluntary. The responsibility is to defend Australia should the need arise.
Does a child born overseas to a citizen become a citizen automatically? The booklet describes it as an application: a citizen can apply for the child to become an Australian citizen by descent.
Why does this chapter overlap with Part 4? Part 4 takes many of the same ideas, such as the freedoms and the fair go, and states them as the Australian values you commit to. The values questions have their own all-five-correct rule, so study both.
Ready to try a full test? Start Australian citizenship practice test 1.
Based on the testable section of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, Part 2, Department of Home Affairs (Commonwealth of Australia 2020, CC BY 4.0). Written in our own words; read the official booklet before your test.