| If you are a migrant and you seek to naturalize | | | | hearts, alongside 'mateship'. Hold dear the ideas of |
| you will be required to pass a test demonstrating | | | | tolerance, compassion, gender equality and |
| you familiarity with Australia's history, her main | | | | freedom of speech and you will be promoting |
| institutions, and the values held by her people, and | | | | other core Australian values. |
| included in this is something known as 'mateship'. | | | | It has to be said that when the new citizens do |
| The Australian multicultural heritage is an element | | | | enter the ranks of Australian nationals many of |
| of the society which is well appreciated; however, | | | | their fellows will be ignorant of their knowledge. |
| the government does consider it important that | | | | Especially, as few will know the exact dates of |
| the new citizens integrate with their neighbours. | | | | many of the events in the quiz. |
| To be a good citizen a person needs to | | | | At 40 pages long, the application booklet will be a |
| appreciate nationhood and to value what | | | | very valuable publication for the migrants, holding |
| Australians hold dear. To pass the test an | | | | the key to their new lives in Australia. To achieve |
| appreciation of the questions in English and the | | | | a balance between ethnic diversity and social |
| ability to answer them in English will be | | | | cohesion is the government's stated aim of the |
| fundamental to the test. | | | | test. Understand and respect Australia, and then |
| A pamphlet will be supplied to all who apply. This | | | | commit yourself to becoming involved in the laws, |
| provides information for the test, and includes | | | | the values and the community and you will not |
| notes on important events in the country's | | | | only be welcomed but you will gain the most |
| history, topics on the political constitution and | | | | from your life in the country. This is the emphasis |
| important bodies, economics, culture, and | | | | of the message from the Australian government. |
| background to Australia's aboriginal peoples. | | | | Some have criticized the English language |
| Becoming a citizen requires an overriding | | | | requirements, pointing out that there have been |
| commitment to the Australian nation. The nation is | | | | many who entered without English in the past |
| described as being at ease with the world and | | | | who have become imminent Australians. |
| itself. | | | | However, the Australian Government simply |
| Mateship is described in the booklet as voluntarily | | | | points out that encouraging English skills in the |
| helping and receiving help from others, especially in | | | | applicants will be to their own advantage. |
| times of difficulty. | | | | One in four or thereabouts of Australia's current |
| Mates can be found anywhere and can be from | | | | population were born overseas. This illustrates the |
| any form of relationship. Indeed, mates may even | | | | fact that getting the right migration is very |
| be strangers. The requirement is that the entrant | | | | important for Australia. The test must surely be a |
| will answer a 20 question quiz based upon the | | | | positive benefit for all. Better understanding of |
| published 200 questions. | | | | Australia before naturalization should result in a |
| Applicants will only fail if they answer fewer than | | | | better balance between diversity and cohesion for |
| 12 questions correctly. | | | | the nation, plus a faster acclimatization for the |
| Giving people a 'fair go', is one of 10 core values | | | | immigrant. |
| which new passport holders must take to their | | | | |