Australia Requires New Citizens To Pass Mateship Test

The requirements from the later part of 2007 are that all those naturalizing will pass a test. The test will require knowledge of the country's history, her institutions and values, part of which is called 'mateship'.

Although Australians applaud cultural diversity, the government clearly wants to ensure that their new entrants assimilate more than recently. Today's good citizen must both understand and seek to further develop through his or her actions, most or all of the good things which Australians hold in common.

The ability to communicate using the English language is a fundamental requirement for passing the test.

All applicants for naturalization will be given a pamphlet which will give them information to pass the test, this includes Australian history topics, political institutions, economic background and indigenous people related information.

If you are to be a citizen you will be required to commit yourself to Australia as a nation. This is clearly to be seen as a good thing for all, and the nation is described as being at ease with itself and the world.

You may be wondering what mateship is. The book given to all applicants says it is voluntary help giving and in return receiving help from others, especially in difficult times.

We are told that a mate can be a spouse, partner, brother, sister, daughter, son or friend. A mate can also be a stranger it says. The migrant applying will learn the list of a total of 200 questions and be tested on 20 of them.

A pass will be given to all who respond with at least 12 correct answers

There are within these a theoretical ten Australian values. Mateship is one, but giving people 'a fair go' is another. Additional basic Australian values are said to include tolerance, compassion, gender equality and freedom of speech.

The answers to some questions will not be known to many born and bred Australians. How many can quote the exact date of the various colonies federated into a commonwealth (1901)? Not many we think.

The pamphlet amounts to 40 pages of information and knowledge. To achieve a balance between ethnic diversity and social cohesion is the government's stated aim of the test. The emphasis clearly being made is that the newcomers really must show that they are committed to Australia, the laws of the country, the values of the population at large, and the community in which they live.

We are told here have been quite a number of non-English speaking past Australian entrants who have become highly respected individuals. So why make the knowledge of English so important?

However, the Australian Government simply points out that encouraging English skills in the applicants will be to their own advantage.

Australia was founded by, and still lives by its immigrants, so the manner in which newcomers continue to integrate into the community is important. The new test suggests that this will be appreciated more than ever by the newcomers as they take up their new status.

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