I Pledge Allegiance To ... The Don

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 27, 2007

Jessica Irvine

ALTHOUGH many Australians might struggle to grasp their significance to everyday life, the program of the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, the emergence of the Heidelberg School of impressionist art and the uses of the stump-jump plough have emerged as potential questions on the Federal Government's citizenship test.

A booklet designed to equip aspiring citizens with all the knowledge needed to pass the test was released yesterday by the Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews.

With a heavy focus on achievements at war and identifying "Australian values", it also nominates cricket as the nation's favourite international sport.

Aboriginal history before settlement is dispensed with in four sentences, yet a subsequent blow-by-blow description of settlement, industrial development and sporting achievement runs to 12 pages.

Mr Andrews said the list of 10 values was likely to be "relatively uncontroversial". They include freedom of speech and religion, equality between men and women, support for the rule of law, peacefulness and compassion.

"Australia has a strong tradition of mateship ... especially in times of adversity" it says. "A mate can be a spouse, partner, brother, sister, daughter, son or a friend. A mate can also be a total stranger."

Mr Andrews released a sample of 20 questions, but again refused Labor calls for the full list of 200 possible questions.

The remaining questions could delve further into the more obscure facts of Australian history covered by the booklet.

From the landing in 1606 of the Dutchman William Jansz on the Cape York Peninsula, it includes a detailed account of the sacrifices of the early explorers, the origin of the word "Digger", the tragedy on the beaches of Gallipoli, the siege at Tobruk and the journey along the Kokoda Trail.

Homage is also paid to sporting heroes, the location of Phar Lap's heart is revealed and the dominant football codes in every state carefully explained.

Pitched at a year 10 level of understanding, the booklet borders at times on the sentimental. Australia's first governor, Captain Arthur Phillip, is remembered as "firm yet humane", Sir Donald Bradman as "small and slight, but amazingly quick on his feet".

A recounting of the post-settlement experience of indigenous Australians sits uncomfortably as a two-page breakout to the rest of history. But it provides an honest account of the "ruthless" killing of Aborigines and the removal of their civil rights in the late 19th century. "Aboriginals could be told where to live, had to seek permission to marry and could have their children taken away from them," it says, concluding: "Australia faces an ongoing challenge to ensure that the Aboriginals fully share in the life and prosperity of the nation."

Aspiring citizens are expected to start sitting the test in mid to late September, after the legislation has been passed. The Government has allocated about $15 million for advertising.

The Greens senator Kerry Nettle said the level of detail in the booklet was "intimidating" and would turn some people off applying for citizenship.

QUICK QUIZ

Sample questions from new citizenship test

1 In what year did Federation take place?

2 Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?

3 What is the first line of Australia's national anthem?

4 What is the floral emblem of Australia?

5 After a federal election, who forms the new government?

6 In what year did the European settlement of Australia start?

7 In Australia, everyone is free to practise the religion of their choice, or practise no religion: true or false?

8 As an Australian citizen, I have the right to register my baby born overseas as an Australian citizen: true or false?

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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