A Challenge For Newcomers

The Age

Monday February 11, 2008

Ben Haywood

The new citizenship test has sparked much controversy, reports Ben Haywood.

1. What is the citizenship test?

Last year the Howard government introduced a law requiring anybody who wants to become an Australian citizen to pass a test.

The 20-question, computer-based quiz tests prospective citizens on Australian "values, traditions, history and national symbols". The test is in English, so it also serves as a test of English-language skills.

Questions for the multiple-choice test are drawn from a pool of 100, and are based on information in a free resource book for applicants. There is also a tutorial and practice test online.

To pass the test, applicants must answer at least 60% of the questions correctly. If they fail, they may resit the test as many times as they need to pass.

The new Rudd Government supports the citizenship test, but has committed to a review of the test after its first six months in April. The review will examine the test questions and the test's impact on citizenship applications.

Figures from the test's first three months show a much lower pass rate for humanitarian migrants, including refugees (80% ), than for skilled migrants (97% ), sparking concern about the suitability of some questions.

Citizenship applications have also dropped significantly since the introduction of the test. For the first nine months of last year, applications never dropped below 11,000 a month. In October, November and December, applications were fewer than 3500 a month.

2. What is the value of a citizenship test?

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship website describes the citizenship test as "an important part of ensuring that migrants have the capacity to fully participate in the Australian community as citizens and maximise the opportunities available to them in Australia".

It says that the test promotes "social cohesion" and helps new citizens successfully integrate into the community.

Supporters argue that by understanding Australia's history, values and system of government, new citizens are in a better position to make a smooth transition to the Australian way of life.

They believe it ensures new citizens understand both the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizenship. They say it also provides a strong incentive for non-English speakers to learn the language.

3. What are the criticisms?

Some people are fundamentally opposed to the citizenship test. They see the test as an attempt to "keep out" unworthy applicants. They feel the Government is imposing its own idea of what it means to be Australian, rather than embracing the cultural diversity that immigration brings.

Others believe the test is discriminatory. They say migrants from non-English speaking or less educated backgrounds are disadvantaged by the test, which can only be taken in English.

Many question how it is possible to test prospective citizens on Australian values, when there are so many different opinions about what it means to be an Australian. Others say it is unfair to make prospective citizens pass a test that many Australian-born citizens would struggle to pass.

There have also been criticisms about the relevance of some test questions, including one about Australian cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman that appears in the online practice test.

This, along with concerns that the decrease in citizenship applications was a result of the new test, will be examined in the April review.

4. Recent headlines

"Daunting citizenship test scares off applicants"

The Age, January 30

"Howzat? Citizenship test gets review it needs"

The Age, January 30

"Citizenship a tad too testing"

Australian Financial Review, January 29

5. What The Age says

"Yesterday The Age reported that sporting heroes could vanish from the citizenship test because it placed refugees at considerable disadvan-tage. One of the questions on the online example of the test asked: who was Australia's greatest crick-eter? Applicants had a choice between Bradman, Sir Hubert Opperman (cyclist) and Walter Lind-rum (billiards player). Well, of course, a refugee from Sudan should know the answer to the question, shouldn't they? Of course they should not. It must be hoped that the reconstituted test will focus less on what it means to be a particular follower of a particular sport and more on what it means to be an Australian, to know how this country has evolved, its form of government under which an applicant will live and its culture."

Editorial opinion, The Age, January 30

6. What people say

"Compulsory citizenship tests that rely on rote learning are an illusion-ary means of creating an integrated nation. The true heroes of social cohesion in Australia are the profes-sionals and volunteers alike, who teach English in neighbourhood houses, asylum seeker resource cen-tres, and private homes. The vital information that newcomers need to adjust to Australian life is far more effectively imparted in face-to-face encounters."

Arnold Zable, president ,Melbourne Centre of International PEN, The Age, January 31

"I think it's more important that they understand about how a democ-racy works, what the role of the courts (is), what the role of the police (is). Those are more the sorts of things people need to understand if they're going to join and engage in our society, not necessarily the his-torical facts about some of our past sportsmen."

Chris Evans, Immigration Minister, The Advertiser, January 30

"No one has the right to decide what being Australian is. I was born here and I have no idea. But I do know what it isn't, and what being Austra-lian isn't is testing people on what they know about some white pen-pusher's idea of Australia."

Catherine Deveny, The Age, August 29, 2007

"Just don't make it (the test) retro-spective or I'm in trouble. I've been here half my life and am still dis-covering aspects of landscape, institutions, identities, history and nuance of language."

Larry Schwartz, The Age, August 28, 2007

YOUR VIEW

What's your view of the citizenship test? Should questions about sports people have a place in it? What are Australian values? What is the best way to determine someone's suitability for citizenship? Submit your view and join the debate at education.theage.com.au by 10am Thursday.

WEB LINKS

? Department of Immigration and Citizenship, www.citizenship.gov.au

? Try the practice citizenship test online, www.citizenship.gov.au/test/practice/practice-test.htm

PREVIOUS ISSUE: ZOOS

Zoos help protect and preserve animals, many of which might be endangered. The answer to animal welfare concerns about small cages is to allow only open-range zoos or reserves such as the Werribee Open Range Zoo. But we should continue breeding programs and research to protect endangered animals and increase their numbers.

Keishan, year 8, Wantirna College

What is the actual purpose of a zoo? Is it for human entertainment? A haven for endangered species of the wild? A business? If the animals are treated correctly, there is no reason they should not be in captivity. There are so many dangers out there for wild animals, and sometimes the only chance of survival they have is with the support of a happy and carefree enclosure.

Jay, year 9, Camberwell Girls Grammar School

Zoos are just like a circus that doesn't travel. Humans are also animals and if we were to be placed in cages for the entertainment of other animals we wouldn't like it. So why do we find it acceptable them to be held captive for human entertainment?

Zoos benefit younger children because they teach them things that they can't find in a book. I used to love going to the zoo to learn about animals, but I have realised that zoos aren't all that beneficial to animals. They are just big cages where animals are kept for human entertainment. This is why they should be abolished.

Angela, year 9, Rowville Secondary College

I am not an animal activist but I've been thinking about whether zoos captivate or protect. Are zoos beneficial to the animals? Before reading the article, I did not believe zoos mistreated and took advantage of the animals. Recent events have shocked me. An elephant stabbed? Bringing animals to fund-raising parties? These problems are because of zoo keepers, not the zoos.

David, year 9, Rowville Secondary College

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home