MishpishIt SHOULD be harder to become an Aussie Citizen
March 12th 2007 02:23
On March 1st the Australian Parliament passed the Australian Citizenship Bill 2006. The bill changes some of the requirements on becoming an Aussie citizen.
At the moment you have to be a permenant resident in Australia for two years before you can apply for citizenship. It's going to change to four. You also can't have lived out of the country for 12 months during that period. You'll also have to pass a basic English test.
Tougher security checks are being added, and if you've been convicted of a crime you probably won't be elgible for citizenship. There are also some changes to those applying for citizenship, such as kids, spouses, etc.
More changes are being discussed, and the one that everyone seems up in arms about regards a test on 'Australian values'. Those who take the test would have to demonstrate a knowledge of Aussie history and society. The test would only be available in English (unless you are over 60 years, where the language requirement doesn't have to be met).
On channel Nine's 60 Minutes program last night, a story was covered on today's multicultural Australia, and how this new requirement is a deterrent for becoming a citizen and a BAD thing. Why?
I'm not pro-Howard or right wing, but I don't get why everyone is making such a big deal about this whole issue. I must be missing something!
Many countries make it a difficult process to become a citizen... look at the US and England. Australia is a beautiful country and a great place to live. If people really want to become Australian, they should have to get to know a bit about the country's history and values. I don't see what's so controversial about that. Especially a society that places so much emphasis on the ideas of 'mateship', 'Anzacs' and patriotism.
It took my Mum over 17 years to decide to become a US citizen. She studied hard for her test to become a US citizen. She had to take a long exam that was harder than anything I had studied in 12 years of American education. She values her US citizenship and takes it seriously.
I moved out to Australia 15 years ago. Becoming a permanant residenct was a long and hard process, but I did it because I loved it here and wanted to make it my home. I couldn't believe how EASY it was for me to become a citizen. It took a five minute interview. I never even had to memorize the Australian Anthem, the words were provided to me at the citizenship ceremony. I actually found the whole process a bit of a joke. There was much more emphasis placed on permanent residence than on citizenship.
The laws don't affect permenant residency, so people can still live here for as long as they want without citizenship. All this law does is make you prove you understand and know a bit about the country you have chosen as your home.
If someone wants to become an Australian Citizen, why shouldn't they have to earn it? By earning it, they will treasure it even more. It's not a right, it's a privilege (to steal a government phrase).
But I'd love to hear a convincing argument against mine, so let me know what I'm missing on this issue!
At the moment you have to be a permenant resident in Australia for two years before you can apply for citizenship. It's going to change to four. You also can't have lived out of the country for 12 months during that period. You'll also have to pass a basic English test.
Tougher security checks are being added, and if you've been convicted of a crime you probably won't be elgible for citizenship. There are also some changes to those applying for citizenship, such as kids, spouses, etc.
More changes are being discussed, and the one that everyone seems up in arms about regards a test on 'Australian values'. Those who take the test would have to demonstrate a knowledge of Aussie history and society. The test would only be available in English (unless you are over 60 years, where the language requirement doesn't have to be met).
On channel Nine's 60 Minutes program last night, a story was covered on today's multicultural Australia, and how this new requirement is a deterrent for becoming a citizen and a BAD thing. Why?
I'm not pro-Howard or right wing, but I don't get why everyone is making such a big deal about this whole issue. I must be missing something!
Many countries make it a difficult process to become a citizen... look at the US and England. Australia is a beautiful country and a great place to live. If people really want to become Australian, they should have to get to know a bit about the country's history and values. I don't see what's so controversial about that. Especially a society that places so much emphasis on the ideas of 'mateship', 'Anzacs' and patriotism.
It took my Mum over 17 years to decide to become a US citizen. She studied hard for her test to become a US citizen. She had to take a long exam that was harder than anything I had studied in 12 years of American education. She values her US citizenship and takes it seriously.
I moved out to Australia 15 years ago. Becoming a permanant residenct was a long and hard process, but I did it because I loved it here and wanted to make it my home. I couldn't believe how EASY it was for me to become a citizen. It took a five minute interview. I never even had to memorize the Australian Anthem, the words were provided to me at the citizenship ceremony. I actually found the whole process a bit of a joke. There was much more emphasis placed on permanent residence than on citizenship.
The laws don't affect permenant residency, so people can still live here for as long as they want without citizenship. All this law does is make you prove you understand and know a bit about the country you have chosen as your home.
If someone wants to become an Australian Citizen, why shouldn't they have to earn it? By earning it, they will treasure it even more. It's not a right, it's a privilege (to steal a government phrase).
But I'd love to hear a convincing argument against mine, so let me know what I'm missing on this issue!
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Comment by Anonymous
It's far too easy to become an Australian citiizen. Most likely a throwback to the immigration requirements of the country back in the post WWII era.
Is a sense of pride and nationalism a bad thing? I think not.
Is it unreasonable to expect this of our citizens? I think not.
If you want to be an Aussie citizen, than you should be driven by a sense of wanting to be a part of these values in the first place.
Keep up the blogging.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Patriotism for an Australian is not mesured in how enthusiastically we wave a flag or know which prime minister followed which.
We were until recent times a very egalitarian society. Where the saying was "Jack is a s good as his master."
I see no convincing reason for making citizenship harder than it is. We can't just look at another country for an answer because that other country may have it dead wrong.
Understanding Anzac historal lesson and understanding the Anzac legend of convenience are two seperate things. Which one will be on the test? I suspect the latter.
Rope learning of long tract of Jingoism offers nothing to new Australian except another hoop to jump through.
The real reason for this push for making things harder may be more fundamental than patriotic.
Only Citizins can Vote.
Traditionally new migrants have voted Labor and establish business owner have voted Liberal. Most new migrant work in factories for at least two years and can be seen as being under the ideological influence of Unions to Vote Left.
Making it harder for one particular demographic to vote may just be a clever way of engineering future elections to favour a Liberal government.
Comment by Brenton
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And a Oz history test? Like historians are better patriots?
I've made my argument for the stupidity of a history test HERE.
How does knowing Aus history make you a better Aussie? Most Aussies would fail such a test.
Comment by Ahmed
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How many people here know the oath of citizenship? Thats all that needs to be known imo.
Might I also remind you that if we do have an Australian citizenship test about 90% of the country will probably have to have their citizenship revoked based on the fact they'd fail said test?
Heck, I think average Joe Australian has a better chance of passing the US citizenship test than the Australian one.
heh, and really truly if someone knows Australia's history, especially the genocide against the people who lived here way before, they probably will just exclaim 'you can just take your citizenship and shove it'
Comment by Mishpish
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As many Americans would fail their citizenship test as here... when you're born and raised in a country you have an understanding of that country's identity. You've invested in it's cultures without trying. Making someone study a citizenship history test doesn't prove they have "aussie values" it does prove that they have invested an interest in Australia, the country they want to adopt.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Doesn't make me love the subject.
Comment by Luke
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A lot of people born here probably couldn't even meet that requirement. And values change. I woudn't mind a few Australian so-called 'values' to change, it would be for the better.
Comment by Ahmed
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If they ask for a citizenship odds are they are quite interested in investing for a future in this country.
Comment by Mishpish
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I agree that anyone can study a test without appreciating the subject matter. But you have to study. It shows you're taking it seriously.
Take what I did to become a citizen: I walked into the dept of immigration one day, filled in a form. Spent five minutes memorising my "rights and obligations" which I had to recite, wang bang I got approved as a citizen. It didn't take much thought or hard work.
Shouldn't it have to mean something?
Comment by Ahmed
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Since when did the government not need citizens? Australia is extremely sparse, we need more people to live here.
Your citizenship means as much as you are willing to uphold your pledge of allegiance, which I sure hope means a lot to you because if it doesn't you'll probably end up in prison.
Comment by Mishpish
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I've had one friend who fell in love with an Irishman who was out here on a working visa. He had to leave the country at the end of his visa and she followed him back to the UK. She had to live with him for 2 years in the UK before he could apply for another visa to come back to Australia. Even then, for the first 2 years when they were back my friend could boot her Irishman boyfriend out of the country at the drop of a hat if she wanted to.
They had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get him permanent residency. To me it seems that getting permanent residency is far more difficult than actually becoming a citizen.
But I'm not an expert on the subject - I was born here.
Damo,
Making it harder for one particular demographic to vote may just be a clever way of engineering future elections to favour a Liberal government.
I love how your mind works
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Cibbuano
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We had a Canadian history class, which I slept through, or was trying to flirt with girls that were similarly disinterested.
Comment by Anonymous