Our Common Bond 2014 PDF

Australian Citizenship
Our Common Bond

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Contents
A message to you 3
Testable section
Part 1 Australia and its people 8
Part 2 Australias democratic beliefs, rights and liberties 16
Part 3 Government and the law in Australia 22
Glossary of testable section 30
Practice test questions 34
Non-testable section
Part 4 Australia today 38
Part 5 Our Australian story 54
Glossary of non-testable section 72
For more information 74
Acknowledgments 76
Australiancitizenshipisaprivilegethatoffersenormousrewards.
BybecominganAustraliancitizen,youarejoiningauniquenationalcommunity.
3 A message to you

A message to you
Congratulations on choosing to become an Australian
citizen. It takes courage, endeavour and commitment
to live in a new country and participate fully as a
citizen. We value your contribution to our peaceful and
democratic society.
Australian citizenship is an important step in your
migration story. Becoming an Australian citizen
means that you are making an ongoing commitment
to Australia and all that this country stands for. It is
also the beginning of your formal membership of the
Australian community. It is the step that will enable
you to say I am Australian.
Australian citizenship is a privilege that offers
enormous rewards. By becoming an Australian citizen,
you are joining a unique national community. Our
country has been built on the combined contributions
of our Indigenous people and those who came later
from all over the world. We celebrate this diversity and
at the same time, strive for a unied and harmonious
nation.
The strength of the Australian community means that
we work together to solve problems and to make
Australia the great country that it is. We have a stable
system of government and Australians respect the
authority and laws of the government. Our stability,
our culture and our laws have been shaped by our
history. By joining the Australian community, you will
inherit this history and you will be in a position to
contribute to it.
Australia is an ancient land. It is vast and unique.
It is a country of rainforests and woodlands; of golden
beaches and dry deserts. Our Indigenous cultures are
the oldest continuing cultures in the world. We are
also a young nation; a nation of migrants. European
settlement in Australia began in 1788 and we continue
to welcome new migrants today. People from more
than 200 countries have made Australia their home.
As a result, our society is one of the most diverse in
the world. Australia successfully combines ethnic and
cultural diversity with national unity. Citizenship is the
bond that unites us all.
Australia is a democracy. Citizenship gives you
the opportunity to fully participate in building our
democratic nation. It means that you are ready to
full your responsibilities as a formal member of the
Australian community. Australians believe in the dignity
and freedom of each person, the equality of men and
women and the rule of law. Australian citizenship is
about living out these values in your everyday life.
The Australian Citizenship Pledge
It is important for all Australian citizens to understand
our rights and responsibilities and what it means to
be a citizen, whether we are Australian by birth or by
choice. It is a critical part of building our nation.
When you attend your Australian citizenship ceremony,
you will make the Australian Citizenship Pledge.
In doing so, you are making a public commitment
to Australia and accepting the responsibilities and
privileges of citizenship. Learning the meaning behind
the Pledge will give you a greater understanding
of what it means to be an Australian and the
responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
This is the pledge you will make:
From this time forward, under God,*
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.
* A person may choose whether or not to use the words under God.
As you read this book, you will gain a full
understanding of the meaning behind the Pledge and
how you can enhance your role in Australian society.
4 Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond

Becoming an Australian citizen

Australiasmigranthistoryisover200yearsold.Inthisregard,wearestillayoungnationandyouareapartofour
story.ThedecisionsyoumakeasacitizenofAustraliawillhelptoshapeourfuture.
The Australian citizenship test
TheAustraliancitizenshiptestisdesignedtoassess
whetheryouhaveanadequateknowledgeofAustralia
andtheresponsibilitiesandprivilegesofcitizenship.
Thecitizenshiptestisalsodesignedtoassesswhether
youhaveabasicknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguage.
Englishisournationallanguage.Communicating
inEnglishhelpsyoutoplayamoreactiverolein
Australiansociety.Ithelpsyoutotakefulladvantage
ofeducation,employmentandtheotheropportunities
Australiahastooffer.
Thecitizenshiptestisacomputerbasedmultiple-
choicetestinEnglish.Thecitizenshiptestconsists
of20questionsdrawnatrandomfromapoolof
questions.Topassthetest,youmustanswer75per
cent,or15outof20questions,correctly.
CitizenshiptestsareconductedinDepartmentof
Immigrationand Border Protection officesaround
Australia.Testsarealsoscheduledinanumberof
locationsthroughoutregionalAustraliaandinsome
overseasmissions.
Bypassingthecitizenshiptest,youwillhaveshown
thatyouunderstandthecommitmentyouaremaking
bytakingtheAustralianCitizenshipPledge.
Preparing for the Australian
citizenship test
Toprepareforthecitizenshiptestyouwillneedtoread
thisresourcebook.
Resource book
Thisresourcebookhasatestableanda
non-testablesection.
Testable section
Alltheinformationyouneedtoknowtopassthe
citizenshiptestisintherstthreepartsofthisbook:
Part1-Australiaanditspeople
Part2-Australiasdemocraticbeliefs,
rightsandliberties
Part3-GovernmentandthelawinAustralia
Youwillneedtoknowandunderstandtheinformation
inthetestablesectiontoanswerthequestionsinthe
citizenshiptest.
Non-testable section
Thenon-testablesectionhasimportantinformation
thatwillhelpyoutounderstandthehistoryandculture
ofAustralia.Youwillnotbetestedonthisinformation.
Part4-Australiatoday
Part5-OurAustralianstory
Practice questions
Attheendofthetestablesection,thereare20
practicequestionstohelpyouprepareforthe
citizenshiptest.
Glossary
Thereisaglossary(listofkeywordsandtheir
meanings)attheendofboththetestableandthe
non-testablesections.
Translated versions of this resource book
Thisresourcebookhasbeentranslatedinto37
communitylanguagesforthoseprospectivecitizens
whoaremorecompetentatreadinginalanguage
otherthanEnglish.Thesetranslationsareavailable
fordownloadonlyfromtheAustraliancitizenship
websitewww.citizenship.gov.au.
5 A message to you
DVD
Anaudio-visualDVDinEnglishisalsoavailabletohelp
prospectivecitizensprepareforthecitizenshiptest.On
theDVDyouwillndapresentationofthekeypoints
fromthetestablesection,aswellasthe20practicetest
questions.ThisDVDhasbeenproducedasastudyaid
forthoseclientswithlowEnglishlanguageprociency.
TheDVDisavailablefororderorfordownloadfromthe
Australiancitizenshipwebsitewww.citizenship.gov.au.
Assistance during the Australian
citizenship test
ItisexpectedthatmostprospectiveAustraliancitizens
willhavetheliteracyskillsnecessarytocompletethe
citizenshiptestwithoutassistance.Forthosepeople
whorequireassistancebecauseoflowEnglishliteracy
skills,anofcercanhelpbyreadingthequestions
andpossibleanswersaloud.Assistancewillalsobe
availabletopeoplewithlowlevelsofcomputerskills,
orwhohaveadisability.Ifyouthinkyouwillneed
assistanceduringthecitizenshiptest,pleaseadvisethe
citizenshipofcer.
Our Common Bond: A Course in
Australian Citizenship
YoumaybeeligibletoattendanAustraliancitizenship
courseinsteadofthecomputerbasedtest.
Thecitizenshipcoursewillcoveralltheinformationin
thetestablesectionofthisbook.Youwillstillneedto
showthatyouhaveabasicknowledgeofEnglishand
understandtheconceptsintheAustralianCitizenship
Pledge.
Moreinformationaboutthecourseisavailablefrom
theAustraliancitizenshipwebsite
www.citizenship.gov.au.
For more information
YoucancalltheCitizenshipInformationLineon
131880(MondaytoFriday8.30amto4.30pm).
Ifyourequiretheservicesofaninterpreter,
pleasecall131450.
YoucanalsovisittheAustraliancitizenshipwebsite
The Australian citizenship ceremony
Australiancitizenshipceremoniescanbesmall,
involvingjustafewpeople,ortheycanbeverylarge,
involvinghundredsoreventhousandsofpeople.The
depthoffeelingandprideamongnewcitizensand
ofcialsmakesitaveryjoyfulcelebration.
Atthebeginningofacitizenshipceremony,youmay
bewelcomedbyarepresentativeoftheIndigenous
peoplewhoarethetraditionalownersoftheland
inyourarea.Youwillhearwordsofwelcomeand
encouragementfromotherleadersofyourlocal
communityorgovernmentrepresentatives.
YouwillreadorrepeattheAustralianCitizenship
Pledgealoudwithotherpeoplewhohavechosen
tobecomeAustraliancitizens.Thisisthemost
importantpartoftheceremony.Youdonotbecome
anAustraliancitizenuntilyouhavemadeyourpledge
ofcommitmenttoAustralia.Youarewelcometobring
aholybookorscripturetoholdwhileyoumakethe
Pledge,butyoudonothavetodoso.
Leadersfromyourcommunityorgovernment
representativeswillmakeshortspeechesonthe
meaningofcitizenship.Youwillreceiveyour
CerticateofAustralianCitizenshipandyoumayalso
receiveasmallgiftfromthecommunity.Everyonewill
singAdvanceAustraliaFair,theAustraliannational
anthem.Afterthecitizenshipceremony,youwillhave
thechancetomeetandcelebratewithyourfellow
Australians.
WewishyoueverysuccessinbecominganAustralian
citizenandinpursuingapeacefulandproductivelife
inAustralia.
NewAustraliancitizensattheircitizenshipceremony
The start of the testable section
Part 1
Australia and its people
Fromthistimeforward,underGod,*
IpledgemyloyaltytoAustraliaanditspeople,
whosedemocraticbeliefsIshare,
whoserightsandlibertiesIrespect,and
whoselawsIwillupholdandobey.
*ApersonmaychoosewhetherornottousethewordsunderGod.

Atthecitizenshipceremony,youpledgeyourloyaltyto
Australiaanditspeople.Itisthereforeimportantfor
youtohaveanunderstandingofAustraliascommunity
andpopulation,includingourIndigenousheritage.It
isalsoimportantforyoutounderstandhowAustralia
developedfromitsuncertainbeginningsasaBritish
colonytothestableandsuccessfulmulticulturalnation
itistoday.
Inthissection,youwillreadaboutsomeofthe
eventsthathavecontributedtoourstory.Thereis
informationaboutourstatesandterritories,andthere
isinformationonthetraditionsandsymbolsthatwe
proudlyidentifyasbeingdistinctlyAustralian.
Our people
Indigenous Australians
AustraliasrstinhabitantsweretheAboriginaland
TorresStraitIslanderpeople.TheyaretheIndigenous
peopleofAustralia.AustraliasIndigenousculturesare
theoldestcontinuingculturesintheworld.
Historically,Aboriginalpeoplearefrommainland
AustraliaandTasmania.Theyhavelivedherefor
between40000and60000years.
TorresStraitIslandersarefromislandstothenorthof
Queensland.Theyhaveadistinctculturalidentity.
Indigenouspeoplesharecommonbeliefsand
traditionsthatstillguidethemtoday.Theyhavea
deepconnectionwiththelandthatisexpressedin
theirstories,artanddance.
Early days of European settlement
Europeansettlementstartedwhentherst11convict
ships,whichbecameknownastheFirstFleet,arrived
fromGreatBritainon26January1788.
AtthistimeBritishlawswereharshandthejailscould
notholdthelargenumberofpeopleimprisoned
fortheircrimes.Tomanagethisproblem,theBritish
Governmentdecidedtotransporttheseconvictsto
theothersideoftheworld;tothenewcolonyof
NewSouthWales.
TherstgovernorofthecolonyofNewSouthWales
wasCaptainArthurPhillip.Heovercamemany
problemsintherstfewyearsofEuropeansettlement.
Thecolonysurvivedandasmoreconvictsandfree
settlersarrived,itgrewanddeveloped.Morecolonies
wereestablishedinotherpartsofthecountry.
EarlyfreesettlerswerefromGreatBritainandIreland.
ThisBritishandIrishheritagehashadamajorinuence
onAustraliashistory,cultureandpoliticalinstitutions.
In1851,goldwasdiscoveredinthecoloniesof
NewSouthWalesandVictoria.Peoplefromall
aroundtheworldcametothesecoloniestotrytheir
luckatmakingafortune.Chinesepeoplearrivingat
thistimeweretherstlargegroupofmigrantsnot
fromEurope.In10years,thepopulationmorethan
doubled.
The nation of Australia
Overthefollowingdecades,theseparatecolonies
discussedtheideaofbecomingonenation.
In1901,thecolonieswereunitedintoafederation
ofstatescalledtheCommonwealthofAustralia.At
thattime,Australiaspopulationwascountedatabout
fourmillionpeople.Thisnumberdidnotincludethe
Indigenouspeople.
Throughoutthersthalfofthe20thcentury,
migrationlevelsroseandfell.Therewereprograms
toactivelyencourageBritishmigrantstosettlehere,
andmanydid.
Awaveofnon-Britishmigrationcameafter
WorldWarII,whenmillionsofpeopleinEurope
hadtoleavetheirhomelands.Largenumberscame
toAustraliatobuildanewlife.
Inrecentyears,ourmigrationandrefugeeprograms
havebroughtpeopletoAustraliafromalloverthe
world.Peoplehavecomeheretojoinfamily,tomakea
newlifeinayoungcountry,ortoescapepoverty,war
orpersecution.
Today,Australiahasapopulationofabout22million
people.Overonequarterofthesepeoplewere
bornoverseas.Australiaisgreatlyenrichedbythe
contributionthesepeoplemaketoournation.While
wecelebratethediversityofAustraliaspeople,wealso
aimtobuildacohesiveanduniednation.
AustraliasnationallanguageisEnglish.Itispartofour
nationalidentity.EveryoneinAustraliaisencouraged
tolearnanduseEnglishtohelpthemparticipatein
Australiansociety.CommunicatinginEnglishisalso
importantformakingthemostoflivingandworking
inAustralia.Otherlanguagesarealsovalued.In
Australiasdiversesociety,over200languagesare
spoken.
Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond
Australias states and territories

TheCommonwealthofAustraliaisafederationofstatesandterritories.Therearesixstatesandtwomainland
territories.CanberraisAustraliascapitalcity,andeachstateandmainlandterritoryhasitsowncapital.
Darwin
Brisbane
Hobart
Melbourne
AustralianCapitalTerritory
Perth
Adelaide
Queensland
NewSouthWales
Northern
Territory
WesternAustralia
SouthAustralia
Tasmania
Victoria
Canberra
Sydney
State Capital city
NewSouthWales(NSW) Sydney
Victoria(Vic.) Melbourne
Queensland(Qld) Brisbane
WesternAustralia(WA) Perth
SouthAustralia(SA) Adelaide
Tasmania(Tas.) Hobart
Territory Capital city
AustralianCapitalTerritory(ACT) Canberra
NorthernTerritory(NT) Darwin
CanberraisalsoAustraliascapitalcity
10
The states
New South Wales wastherstcolonyestablished
bytheBritish.SydneyisthecapitalcityofNewSouth
Walesandisthenationslargestcity.SydneysHarbour
BridgeandOperaHousearenationalicons.
Victoriaisthesmallestofthemainlandstates.Many
nebuildingsinVictoriawerebuiltfromthewealth
createdbythegoldrushofthe1850s.Victoriascapital
cityisMelbourne.
Queenslandisthesecondlargeststate.Ithasthe
TorresStraitIslandsinthenorth,tropicalrainforests,
temperatecoastalareasandanoftendryinland.The
worldfamousGreatBarrierReefrunsalongitseastern
coast.QueenslandscapitalcityisBrisbane.
Western Australiaisthelargeststate.Theeastof
thestateismostlydesert,whilethesouth-westisarich
agriculturalandwine-growingarea.Thestateishome
tomanylargeminingprojects.Aboutthree-quartersof
thestatespopulationlivesinPerth,thecapitalcity.
South Australia hasaruggedcoastlineandmany
famouswineregions.Adelaide,thecapitalcity,has
manyexamplesofnecolonialarchitecture.
Tasmaniaisthesmalleststate,separatedfrom
themainlandbyBassStrait.Muchoftheislandhas
unspoiltwildernesslandscapes.Tasmaniascapital
cityisHobart.
The territories
TheAustralian Capital Territoryissituated
betweenSydneyandMelbourne.Itisthesiteofthe
nationscapitalcity,Canberra.Canberraishometo
importantnationalinstitutions,suchasParliament
HouseandtheHighCourtofAustralia.
The Northern Territoryhasthetropicsinthe
northandreddesertsoilinthesouth.Mostofitssmall
populationliveinthecapitalcity,Darwin,andalong
themainhighwaybetweenDarwinandAliceSprings,
whichisthemaintownnearthecentreofAustralia.
NewSouthWales
Victoria
Queensland
WesternAustralia
SouthAustralia
Tasmania
AustralianCapitalTerritory
NorthernTerritory
Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond 12
Traditions and symbols

Important days for Australians
Australia Day
On26Januaryeachyear,wecelebrateAustraliaDay.AustraliaDayisapublicholidayineverystateandterritory
inAustralia.
OnAustraliaDay,largeandsmallcommunitiesacrossAustraliacelebrateallthatisgreataboutAustraliaandbeing
Australian.ItisthebiggestannualpubliceventinAustralia.
AustraliaDayisthedaythatwehonourourhistoryandallthepeoplewhohavemadethisnationgreat.Itisaday
torejoiceinthepresentandcommittoahappyandprosperousfuturetogether.Forthisreason,itisadaywhen
manycitizenshipceremoniesareheldacrossthecountry.
ItistheanniversaryofthearrivaloftheFirstFleetfromGreatBritainin1788tosetupaconvictsettlementforthe
BritishGovernment.ThecommanderoftheFirstFleetwasCaptainArthurPhillip.
OntheeveofAustraliaDay,thePrimeMinisterannouncestheAustralianoftheYearAwardsinCanberra.
ManycitizenshipceremoniesareheldonAustraliaDayeachyear AnzacDayparade
Anzac Day
AnzacDayisobservedon25Aprileachyear.AnzacDayisnamedaftertheAustralianandNewZealandArmy
Corps,whichlandedatGallipoliinTurkeyduringWorldWarIon25April1915.
AnzacDayisasolemndaywhenwerememberthesacriceofallAustralianswhoservedanddiedinwars,
conictsandpeacekeepingoperations.Wealsohonourthecourageandcommitmentofallservicemen
andwomen.
MoreinformationaboutAustraliaDay,AnzacDayandotherimportantnationaldaysandcelebrationscanbe
foundinPart4,Australiatoday.
Australias flags
TheAustralianNationalFlagistheofcialagofournation.Otheragsthatareofciallyrecognisedandmaybe
owninthecommunityincludetheAustralianAboriginalFlagandtheTorresStraitIslanderFlag.
Eachstateandterritoryalsohasitsownag.Thesecanbefoundonpage11.
The Australian National Flag
TheAustralianNationalFlagisblue,whiteandred.
Ithasthreeimportantparts:
TheagofGreatBritain,knownastheUnion
Jack,isinthetopleftcorner.Theagrepresents
ourhistoryofBritishsettlement.
TheCommonwealthStarisundertheUnionJack.
Thisstarhassevenpoints,onepointforeachof
thesixstatesandonefortheterritories.
TheSouthernCross,ontheright,isagroupof
starsweseeinthesouthernsky.
TheAustralianNationalFlagisblue,whiteandred
The Australian Aboriginal Flag
TheAustralianAboriginalFlagisblack,redandyellow.
Ithasthreeimportantparts,andthemostcommon
interpretationofthecoloursis:
Thetophalfisblackandrepresentsthe
AboriginalpeopleofAustralia.
Thebottomhalfisredandrepresentstheearth
andaspiritualrelationtotheland.
Theyellowcirclerepresentsthesun.
TheAustralianAboriginalFlagisblack,redandyellow
The Torres Strait Islander Flag
TheTorresStraitIslanderFlagisgreen,blue,black
andwhite.
Thegreenstripesrepresenttheland.
Thebluepanelinthecentrerepresentsthesea.
TheblacklinesrepresenttheTorresStraitIslander
people.
Thewhitedancersheaddressinthecentreisa
symbolforallTorresStraitIslanders.
Thepointsofthewhitestarrepresenttheisland
groupsintheTorresStrait.
Thecolourwhiteisasymbolofpeace.
TheTorresStraitIslanderFlagisgreen,blue,blackandwhite
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
TheCommonwealthCoatofArmsistheofcial
symboloftheCommonwealthofAustralia.It
representsournationalunity.Itidentiestheauthority
andpropertyoftheCommonwealthofAustralia.
Theshieldinthecentrerepresentsthesixstates
andfederation.
Akangarooandanemusupporttheshield
oneachside.KangaroosarenativeAustralian
animalsandemusarenativeAustralianbirds.
AgoldCommonwealthStarsitsabove
theshield.
Thebackgroundisthegoldenwattle,
Australiasnationalower.
CommonwealthCoatofArms
Australias national flower
Australiasnationaloweristhegoldenwattle.This
smalltreegrowsmainlyinsouth-easternAustralia.
Ithasbrightgreenleavesandmanygoldenyellow
owersinspring.Eachofthestatesandterritoriesof
Australiaalsohasitsownoralemblem.
Goldenwattle
Australias national colours
Australiasnationalcoloursaregreenandgold,the
coloursofthegoldenwattle.Theuniformsofour
nationalsportsteamsareusuallygreenandgold.
Australiasnationalcoloursofgreenandgold
Australias national gemstone
TheopalisAustraliasnationalgemstone.InAboriginal
legend,arainbowtouchedtheearthandcreatedthe
coloursoftheopal.
Opal
Australias national anthem

AdvanceAustraliaFairisAustraliasnationalanthem.Itissungonoccasionsof
nationalimportance.ItisalsosungatAustraliancitizenshipceremonies,majorsportingeventsand
atschool.ItunitesthenationandisapublicexpressionofthejoyandprideinbeingAustralian.
Advance Australia Fair
Australiansallletusrejoice,
Forweareyoungandfree;
Wevegoldensoilandwealthfortoil;
Ourhomeisgirtbysea;
Ourlandaboundsinnaturesgifts
Ofbeautyrichandrare;
Inhistoryspage,leteverystage
AdvanceAustraliaFair.
Injoyfulstrainsthenletussing,
BeneathourradiantSouthernCross
Welltoilwithheartsandhands;
TomakethisCommonwealthofours
Renownedofallthelands;
Forthosewhovecomeacrosstheseas
Weveboundlessplainstoshare;
Withcourageletusallcombine
ToAdvanceAustraliaFair.
Injoyfulstrainsthenletussing,
*WhileyoumaybetestedonAustraliasnationalanthem,youwillnotbetestedonthewordsoftheanthem.
Part1Australiaanditspeople 15

Part 2
Australias democratic beliefs,
rights and liberties
Australias democratic beliefs, rights and liberties

Atthecitizenshipceremony,youpledgethatyoushare
Australiasdemocraticbeliefsandthatyourespectthe
rightsandlibertiesofthepeopleofAustralia.
Australiaisademocracy.Ademocracyisasystem
ofgovernmentinwhichcitizensfreelychoose
representativestogovernthecountryandmakelaws
ontheirbehalf.
Australiansbelieveinpeace,respect,freedomand
equality.AnimportantpartofbeingAustralianis
respectingotherpeoplesdifferencesandchoices,
evenifyoudontagreewiththosechoices.Itisabout
treatingpeoplefairlyandgivingallAustraliansequal
opportunitiesandfreedoms,nomatterwherethey
comefrom,whattheirtraditionsare,orwhetherthey
aremaleorfemale.
Thesedemocraticbeliefshaveshapedourcountryand
cultureandareareasonwhysomanypeoplewant
tobecomeAustralian.Itisthereforeveryimportant
thatyouunderstandthesedemocraticbeliefs,andthe
rightsandlibertiesthatallAustralianpeoplerespect.
Our democratic beliefs
Parliamentary democracy
Australiassystemofgovernmentisaparliamentary
democracy.ThismeansthatallAustraliansare
involvedinhowthecountryisgoverned.Thepower
ofthegovernmentcomesfromtheAustralianpeople
becauseAustraliancitizensregularlyvoteforpeopleto
representtheminparliament.Onlyparliamenthasthe
powertomakeandchangethelawsthatgovernthe
country.
Inaparliamentarydemocracy,therepresentatives
inparliamentmustanswertothepeople,through
elections,forthedecisionstheymake.
The rule of law
Australiaslawsareimportantforallpeopleliving
inAustralia.Australiansrecognisethevalueof
lawsinmaintainingapeacefulandorderlysociety.
AllAustralianshavetherighttobeprotectedby
Australiaslaws.
EveryonemustobeyAustraliaslaws.Iftheydontobey
thelaw,theymaybearrestedbythepoliceandhave
togotocourt.
AllAustraliansareequalunderthelawandno
personorgroupisabovethelaw.Thisiscalledthe
ruleoflaw.Peoplewhoholdpositionsofpowerin
theAustraliancommunitymustobeyAustraliaslaws.
Thisincludesgovernment,communityandreligious
leaders,aswellasbusinesspeopleandthepolice.
Living peacefully
Weareproudtoliveinapeacefulcountrywitha
stablesystemofgovernment.Webelievethatchange
shouldoccurthroughdiscussion,peacefulpersuasion
andthedemocraticprocess.Werejectviolenceasa
waytochangeapersonsmindorthelaw.
Respect for all individuals regardless of
background
PeoplecometosettleinAustraliafromcountries
allaroundtheworld.Manypeoplehaveadifferent
culturalheritagewithdifferentbeliefsandtraditions.
Inourdemocraticsociety,weareallfreetofollowand
sharethesebeliefsandtraditionsaslongastheydo
notbreakAustralianlaws.
WevaluethisfreedomandexpectallAustraliansto
treateachotherwithdignityandrespect,regardlessof
theirrace,countryoforigin,gender,sexualpreference,
maritalstatus,age,disability,heritage,culture,politics,
wealthorreligion.
Wevaluethismutualrespectforthedignityof
allpeople.
Compassion for those in need
InAustralia,thereisaspiritofmateship.Thismeans
wehelpandreceivehelpfromeachotherintimes
ofneed.Amateisoftenafriend,butcanalsobea
totalstranger.Amatemighttakeamealtoanelderly
neighbour,driveafriendtoamedicalappointmentor
visitsomeonewhoislonely.
Becauseofthisspiritofmateship,manyindividual
peopleandgroupshelpothersthroughvoluntary
communitywork.Youcanalsobeavolunteer.
Volunteeringcanbeverysatisfying.Itisalsoagreat
opportunitytoshareknowledge,learnnewskills,and
increaseyoursenseofbelongingtotheAustralian
community.OurgovernmentalsosupportsAustralians
inneedthroughsocialsecurityandotherservices.
Our freedoms
Freedom of speech and freedom of
expression
Freedomofspeechallowspeopletosayandwrite
whattheythinkandtodiscusstheirideaswithothers.
Freedomofexpressionallowspeopletoexpresstheir
viewsthroughart,lm,musicandliterature.
InAustralia,wearefreetosayandwritewhatwe
think,privatelyorpublicly,aboutanytopic.However,
wecannotharmothers.
Australiansarefreetopeacefullyprotestagainstgovernment
decisionsandlaws
Wecannotmakefalseallegations,encourageothersto
breakthelawordamageanotherpersonsreputation.
Therearelawstoprotectapersonsgoodname
againstfalseinformation.
Itisagainstthelawtotrytomakeotherpeoplehate
oractviolentlytowardsothersbecauseoftheirculture,
ethnicityorbackground.
Wearefreetomeetwithpeopleinpublicorprivate
placesforsocialorpoliticaldiscussion.Wecan
criticisethegovernment,peacefullyprotestagainst
governmentdecisionsandcampaigntochangelaws.
Wemustalsorespectotherpeoplesfreedomof
speechandfreedomofexpression.
Newspapers,televisionandradiohavethesame
freedom.
Freedom of association
Australiansarefreetojoinanylegalorganisation,such
asapoliticalparty,tradeunion,religious,culturalor
socialgroup.Peoplecanalsodecidenottojoin.
Australianscangatherwithotherstoprotestagainst
agovernmentactionoranorganisation.However,
allprotestsmustbewithinthelaw.Thismeansthey
mustbepeaceful,andmustnotinjureanypersonor
damageproperty.
Freedom of religion and secular
government
AustraliahasaJudaeo-Christianheritage,andmany
AustraliansdescribethemselvesasChristians.Australia
haspublicholidaysonChristiandayssuchasGood
Friday,EasterSundayandChristmasDay.
However,thegovernmentinAustraliaissecular.This
meansthatthereisnoofcialnationalreligion.
PeopleinAustraliaarefreetofollowanyreligion
theychoose,aslongasitspracticesdonotbreak
Australianlaws.InadditiontoChristianity,Buddhism,
Islam,Hinduism,Judaismandmanyotherreligionsare
practisedfreelyinAustralia.
Australiansarealsofreetonotfollowareligion.The
governmenttreatsallcitizensequally,whatevertheir
religionorbeliefs.
ThismixofreligionscontributestomakingAustraliaa
vibrantmulticulturalsociety.
Mostreligionshaverules,butthesearenotlaws
inAustralia.Forexample,theprocessofdivorce,
includingcustodyofchildrenandpropertysettlement,
mustfollowlawspassedbytheAustralianParliament.
AllAustralianshavetherighttobeprotectedbythese
laws.Somereligiousorculturalpractices,suchas
beingmarriedtomorethanonepersonatthesame
time,areagainstAustralianlaw.
Our equalities
Equality in Australia
ThereareanumberoflawsinAustraliathatmakesure
apersonisnottreateddifferentlytoothersbecauseof
theirgender,race,disabilityorage.
Equality of men and women
MenandwomenhaveequalrightsinAustralia.
Itisagainstthelawtodiscriminateagainstaperson
becauseoftheirgender.
Bothmenandwomenhavetherighttomaketheir
ownindependentchoicesaboutpersonalmatters
suchasmarriage,andareprotectedbythelawfrom
intimidationorviolence.
Bothmenandwomenhaveequalaccesstoeducation
andemployment.Bothmenandwomencanvoteand
standforparliament.Bothmenandwomencanjoin
theAustralianDefenceForceandthepolice.Menand
womenaretreatedequallyincourtsoflaw.
Equality of opportunity
Australiansdonotbelieveinclassdistinctionsinour
society.Instead,webelieveinafairsociety,where
everyonedeservesafairgo.Thismeansthatwhat
someoneachievesinlifeshouldbearesultoftheir
hardworkandtalents,ratherthantheirwealthor
background.Forexample,apersonshouldgetajob
orapromotiononthebasisoftheirskills,abilityand
experience,notbecauseoftheirbackground.
Australiahasmanystoriesofnewmigrantswhohave
becomeleadersinbusiness,theprofessions,thearts,
publicserviceandsportthroughtheirhardworkand
talents.
PeopleinAustraliaarefreetofollowanyreligion
MenandwomencanjointheArmy,NavyandAirForce
AllAustralianshavetheopportunitytogotouniversity
Responsibilities and privileges

of Australian citizenship
AsapermanentresidentofAustralia,youhavealready
enjoyedlivinginafreeanddemocraticsociety.When
youbecomeanAustraliancitizen,youwillhavenew
responsibilities.Youwillalsohavearangeof
newbenets.
Responsibilities what you will
give Australia
AsanAustraliancitizenyoumust:
obeythelaw
voteinfederalandstateorterritoryelections,
andinareferendum
defendAustraliashouldtheneedarise
serveonajuryifcalledtodoso.
Privileges what Australia will give you
AsanAustraliancitizenyouhavetherightto:
voteinfederalandstateorterritoryelections,
andinareferendum
applyforworkintheAustralianPublicServiceor
intheAustralianDefenceForce
seekelectiontoparliament
applyforanAustralianpassportandre-enter
Australiafreely
receivehelpfromanAustralianofcialwhile
overseas
registerchildrenbornoverseasasAustralian
citizensbydescent.
Responsibilities
Obey the law
Ourrepresentativesingovernmentmakelawsto
maintainanorderly,freeandsafesocietyandto
protectourrights.AllAustraliansmustobeythelaws
madebytheAustralianParliament,stateandterritory
parliaments,andlocalgovernment.
Moreinformationaboutsomeimportantlawsin
AustraliacanbefoundinPart3,Governmentandthe
lawinAustralia.
Vote in federal and state or territory
elections, and in a referendum
Votingisbothanimportantrightandresponsibility
forallAustraliancitizens.Wevoteforthepeoplewe
wanttorepresentusinparliament.Bydoingthis,we
allhaveoursayinhowthecountryisgovernedand
contributetothefutureofAustralia.
Asacitizen,youwillvoteregularlyinfederalandstate
orterritoryelections.Occasionally,youwillvoteina
referendum,whichisavotetochangetheAustralian
Constitution.MoreinformationabouttheAustralian
ConstitutioncanbefoundinPart3,Governmentand
thelawinAustralia.
Australiancitizensaged18yearsorovermustregister
theirnameandaddressontheelectoralroll.Once
youareontheelectoralroll,votingiscompulsoryfor
Australiancitizensaged18yearsoroverinfederaland
stateorterritoryelections.
Votinginlocalgovernmentelectionsisnotcompulsory
insomestates.
Wehaveoursaybyvotinginfederal,stateorterritoryand
localgovernmentelections.
Defend Australia should the need arise
WhileserviceintheAustralianDefenceForceis
voluntary,shouldtheneedariseitisvitalthatall
Australiancitizensbecommittedtojoiningtogether
todefendthenationanditswayoflife.
Serve on a jury if called to do so

JuryserviceisaresponsibilityforAustraliancitizens
aged18yearsorover.Ajuryisagroupofordinary
Australianmenandwomenwholistentotheevidence
inacourtcaseanddecideifapersonisguiltyornot
guilty.
AnyAustralianwhoisontheelectoralrollmaybe
calledtoserveonajury.
Juryservicehelpstomakesurethatthecourtsystem
isopenandfair.
Privileges
Apply for work in the Australian
Public Service and the Australian
Defence Force
IfyouareanAustraliancitizen,youcanapplyto
jointheAustralianPublicServiceandworkforthe
AustralianGovernment,forexample,inCentrelink,
MedicareortheAustralianTaxationOfce.
Australiancitizensalsohavetherighttoapplyfora
careerintheAustralianDefenceForce(theArmy,Navy
andAirForce).
Seek election to parliament
Australiancitizensaged18yearsorovercanseek
electiontoparliamentatthefederal,stateorterritory
level.Itisbothanhonourandaseriousresponsibility
toserveinanAustralianparliament.
Apply for an Australian passport and
re-enter Australia freely
WhenyoubecomeanAustraliancitizen,youhavethe
righttolivefreelyinAustralia.
YouhavetherighttoapplyforanAustralianpassport.
AsanAustraliancitizen,youarefreetotraveloverseas
andreturntoAustralia.Youdonotneedavisato
comebacktoAustralia.
Receive help from an Australian official
while overseas
Inmanycountries,Australiahasanembassy,high
commissionorconsulate.Whileyouareoverseas,you
canaskforhelpfromanofcialintimesofneed.
Thisincludesemergenciessuchascivilunrestand
naturaldisasters.Ofcialscanalsoissueemergency
passportsandprovideadviceandsupportinthecase
ofanaccident,seriousillnessordeath.
Wheninanothercountry,youmustobeythelawsof
thatcountry.
Register children born overseas as
Australian citizens by descent
Australiancitizensmayhavechildrenbornoverseas.
TheycanregistertheirchildrenasAustralian
citizens.Thechildrenthenhavethesamerightsand
responsibilitiesofcitizenshipaschildrenbornin
Australia.
Participating in Australian
society
Australiaencouragesallcitizenstoparticipate
insociety.Citizenswhoparticipateinsociety
contributetoAustraliainmanyways.Youcanjoin
neighbourhoodandlocalcommunities.Youcan
volunteertodosocialandcommunitywork.Youcan
joinanartsorculturalorganisation.Youcanalso
activelyparticipateinpoliticallife.
Payingtaxisanotherimportantwayyoudirectly
contributetotheAustraliancommunity.Taxispaid
outofthemoneyyouearn,whetheritsfromajob,
abusinessorinvestments.
ManyofthebenetsthatAustraliansenjoyaremade
possiblethroughtaxes.Taxesarespentonservices
whichincludehealth,education,defence,roadsand
railways,andsocialsecurity.Byworkingandpaying
taxes,youcansupportthegovernmenttoprovide
theseimportantservicestotheAustraliancommunity.
TheseserviceshelpmakeAustraliathepeacefuland
prosperouscountryitistoday.Stateandterritory
governmentsandlocalcouncilsalsocollecttaxesto
payforservices.
Payingtaxisrequiredbylaw.Taxiscollectedbythe
AustralianTaxationOfce(ATO)frombothbusinesses
andindividuals.TheATOworkstoensureallcitizens
areawareoftheirtaxrightsandobligationstopaythe
correctamountoftax.
22 Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond
Part 3
Government and the law in Australia

Atthecitizenshipceremony,youpledgetoupholdandobeythelawsofAustralia.Itisimportantforyouto
understandAustraliassystemofgovernment,howthelawsaremadeinourparliamentarydemocracyandhow
theselawsareadministered.Itisalsoimportanttounderstandhowyou,asacitizen,willhaveasayintherunning
ofthecountry.
How do I have my say?
Voting
InAustralia,citizensaged18yearsorovermustenrol
tovoteatfederalelections.Byvoting,yougettohave
yoursayinwhorepresentsyouinparliament.Ifyou
arenotcorrectlyenrolled,youarenotabletovotein
anelection.
Onceyouareontheelectoralroll,votingiscompulsory
inAustralianfederalandstateorterritoryelections.
Ifyoudonotvoteinanelectionanddonothavea
goodreasonfornotvoting,youwillhavetopaya
ne.Compulsoryvotingisawaytomakesurethatthe
peopleweelectarereallytheonesthatthemajority
ofthepeoplewant.
TheAustralianElectoralCommission(AEC)isa
Commonwealthagency.Itconductsfederalelections
andreferendumsandmaintainstheCommonwealth
electoralroll.TheAEChelpstoprovidevoterswithfair
andhonestelections.TheAECisindependentofthe
government.Politicalpartiesorpeopleingovernment
cannotinuencethedecisionsoftheAEC.Votesare
bysecretballot,soyouarefreeandsafetovotefor
anycandidate.Nooneelseseeswhoyouvotefor.You
cantellotherpeoplewhoyouvotefor,butnoonecan
forceyoutotellthem.
Raising matters with your representatives
InAustralia,youhavetherighttoraisematters
thatconcernyouwithyourelectedrepresentative.
Yourviewsmaythenbetakenintoconsiderationby
parliamentwhenitisconsideringnewlawsorchanges
toexistinglaws.Forexample,ifyouhaveasuggestion
abouthowtoimprovetheimmigrationsystem,you
canmakeanappointmenttodiscussitwithyourlocal
memberofparliament.Youcanalsowritealetter
outliningyourviews.
Inthisway,ordinaryAustralianscanhaveasayin
formingthelawsandpoliciesofagovernment.
How did we establish our
system of government?
Federation
Before1901,Australiawasmadeupofsixseparate,
self-governingBritishcolonies.
Withinitsborders,eachcolonyhaditsown
constitutionanditsownlawsrelatingtodefence,
immigration,postage,tradeandtransport.
Peoplewantedtounitethecoloniestoformasingle
Australiannationforanumberofreasons.Trade
andtransportbetweenthecolonieswasexpensive
andslow.Enforcingthelawacrossborderswas
difcult.Theseparatecoloniesalsohadweaksystems
ofdefence.Moreimportantly,Australiasnational
identitywasbeginningtoform.Sportingteamswere
representingAustraliainternationallyandaunique
Australianculturewasdevelopinginpopularsongs,
poems,storiesandart.
Unitingthenationwasadifculttask,butovera
periodoftime,theideaofoneAustraliannation
becameareality.Australiansareproudofthefact
thattheirnationdidnotemergethroughrevolution
orbloodshed,butbynegotiationandreferendum.
On1January1901,thecolonieswereunitedinto
afederationofstatescalledtheCommonwealth
ofAustralia.
The Australian Constitution

TheCommonwealthofAustraliaConstitutionAct
1900 isthelegaldocumentthatsetsoutthebasic
rulesforthegovernmentofAustralia.TheAustralian
ConstitutionwasoriginallypassedaspartofaBritish
ActofParliamentin1900.On1January1901,when
theConstitutiontookeffect,theAustraliancolonies
becameoneindependentnation,theCommonwealth
ofAustralia.
TheAustralianConstitutionestablishedtheParliament
oftheCommonwealthofAustralia,createdwith
aHouseofRepresentativesandaSenate.The
ConstitutionalsoestablishedtheHighCourtof
Australia,whichhasthepowertoapplyandinterpret
thelawsofAustralia.
TheAustralianConstitutioncanonlybechanged
throughaspecialvotecalledareferendum.
Inareferendum,thereneedstobeadoublemajority
fortheAustralianConstitutiontobechanged.This
meansthatthemajorityofvotersinamajorityof
statesandamajorityofvotersacrossthenationmust
voteforthechange.
TheAustralianConstitution
How is the power of
government controlled?
TheAustralianConstitutiondividespowerbetween
threearmsofgovernment.Thisistostoponeperson
oronegroupofpeopletakingoverallthepowerto
governAustralia.
Legislativepower
Parliamenthasthepowertomakeandchangethe
laws.Parliamentismadeupofrepresentativeswho
areelectedbythepeopleofAustralia.
Executivepower
Executivepoweristhepowertoputthelaws
intopractice.TheExecutiveincludesAustralian
GovernmentministersandtheGovernor-General.
Eachministerisresponsibleforoneormore
governmentdepartments.
Judicialpower
Judgeshavethepowertointerpretandapply
thelaw.Courtsandjudgesareindependentof
parliamentandgovernment.
ThesepowersarewrittenintotheAustralianConstitution.
Who is Australias Head of State?
AustraliasHeadofStateistheQueenofAustralia,Her
MajestyQueenElizabethII.
InAustralia,theQueendoesnothaveaday-to-day
roleingovernment.TheQueenappointsthe
Governor-GeneralasherrepresentativeinAustralia,
onadvicefromtheAustralianPrimeMinister.
TheGovernor-Generalactsindependentlyofall
politicalparties.
IneachofthestatesthereisaGovernorwho
representstheQueeninarolethatissimilartothe
Governor-General.
Constitutional monarchy
Australiaisaconstitutionalmonarchy.Aconstitutional
monarchyisacountryinwhichakingorqueenisthe
headofstatebuthastoactinaccordancewiththe
constitution.
TheAustraliansystemofparliamentarydemocracy
wasbasedontheBritishsystem,developedovermany
centuries.IntheAustraliansystem,theleaderofthe
AustralianGovernmentisthePrimeMinister.
The role of the Governor-General

TheGovernor-General:
signsallBillspassedbytheAustralianParliament
intolaw(thisiscalledRoyalAssent)
signsregulations
performsceremonialduties
approvestheappointmentoftheAustralian
Governmentanditsministers,federaljudges
andotherofcials.
TheGovernor-Generalalsohasspecialpowersknown
asreservepowersthatcanonlybeusedinspecic
circumstances.
Who are some of Australias
leaders?
HeadofState
TheQueenofAustralia
Governor-General
TherepresentativeoftheHeadofStateinAustralia
Governor
TherepresentativeoftheHeadofStateineach
Australianstate
PrimeMinister
TheleaderoftheAustralianGovernment
Premier
Theleaderofastategovernment
ChiefMinister
Theleaderofaterritorygovernment
GovernmentMinister
Amemberofparliamentchosenbyagovernment
leadertoberesponsibleforanareaofgovernment
MemberofParliament(MP)
AnelectedrepresentativeoftheAustralianpeople
intheAustralianParliament
Senator
Anelectedrepresentativeofastateorterritoryinthe
AustralianParliament
MayororShirePresident
Theleaderofalocalcouncil
Councillor
Anelectedmemberofalocalcouncil
OldParliamentHouseinCanberraopenedin1927
How is Australia governed?
Australian Government
TheAustralianGovernmentisalsocalledtheFederal
GovernmentortheCommonwealthGovernment.
TheAustralianParliamenthastwoHouses:
theHouseofRepresentatives
theSenate.
ThemembersofbothHousesaredirectlyelected
bytheAustralianpeopleatfederalelections.When
youvoteinafederalelection,youusuallyelect
representativestoeachHouse.
NewParliamentHouseinCanberraopenedin1988
The House of Representatives

TheHouseofRepresentativesissometimescalledthe
LowerHouseorthePeoplesHouse.
Australiaisdividedintofederalelectorates.
Australiansineachelectoratevoteforonepersonto
representthemintheHouseofRepresentatives.This
representativeiscalledaMemberofParliament(MP).
ThenumberofMPsforeachstateandterritoryis
basedonthesizeofitspopulation.Thepeopleof
Australiaelectatotalof150memberstotheHouse
ofRepresentatives.
TheimportantworkoftheHouseofRepresentatives
istoconsider,debateandvoteonproposalsfornew
lawsorchangestothelaws.MembersoftheHouse
ofRepresentativesalsodiscussmattersofnational
importance.
The Senate
TheSenateissometimescalledtheUpperHouse,
theHouseofReviewortheStatesHouse.
ThestatesareequallyrepresentedintheSenate,
regardlessoftheirpopulationsize.Thereare
12representativeselectedfromeachstate.Both
mainlandterritorieselecttworepresentativeseach.
Thereare76representativeselectedintotalandthey
arecalledSenators.
Senatorsalsoconsider,debateandvoteonnewlaws
orchangestothelaws.Senatorsalsodiscussmatters
ofnationalimportance.
State and territory government
TherearesixstatesandtwomainlandterritoriesinAustralia.Eachstatehasitsownconstitutionanditsown
parliament.Stateandterritorygovernmentsarebasedintheircapitalcities.
TheleaderofastategovernmentisthePremierandtheleaderofaterritorygovernmentistheChiefMinister.
StategovernmentsoperateinasimilarwaytotheAustralianGovernment.Ineachstate,aGovernorrepresentsthe
QueenofAustralia.IntheNorthernTerritory,anAdministratorisappointedbytheGovernor-General.Theroleand
responsibilitiesoftheAdministratoraresimilartothoseofastateGovernor.
AswiththeAustralianGovernment,peoplevotetoelectarepresentativefortheirarea.Theserepresentatives
becomeamemberofthestateorterritoryparliament.
Local government
ThestatesandtheNorthernTerritoryaredividedintolocalgovernmentareas.Thesemaybecalledcities,shires,
townsormunicipalities.Eachareahasitsownlocalcouncil.Councilsareresponsibleforplanninganddelivering
servicestotheirlocalcommunity.Citizensineachlocalgovernmentareavotetoelecttheirlocalcouncillors.
TheHouseofRepresentatives
TheSenate
What do the three levels of

government do?
TheAustralianGovernmentisresponsiblefor:
taxation
nationaleconomicmanagement
immigrationandcitizenship
employment
postalservicesandthecommunicationsnetwork
socialsecurity(pensionsandfamilysupport)
defence
trade
airportsandairsafety
foreignaffairs(relationswithothercountries).
Stateandterritorygovernmentsareresponsiblefor:
hospitalsandhealthservices
schools
railways
roadsandroadtrafccontrol
forestry
police
publictransport.
Localgovernments(andtheAustralianCapitalTerritory
Government)areresponsiblefor:
streetsigns,trafccontrols
localroads,footpaths,bridges
drains
parks,playgrounds,swimmingpools,
sportsgrounds
campinggroundsandcaravanparks
foodandmeatinspection
noiseandanimalcontrol
rubbishcollection
locallibraries,hallsandcommunitycentres
certainchild-careandaged-careissues
buildingpermits
socialplanning
localenvironmentalissues.
TheAustralianGovernmentisresponsiblefornational
economicmanagement
Stateandterritorygovernmentsareresponsibleforhospitals
Localgovernmentsareresponsibleforplaygrounds
Someresponsibilitiesaresharedbetweenthevariouslevelsofgovernment.TheCouncilofAustralianGovernment
(COAG)hasbeensetuptoencouragecooperationbetweenthelevelsofgovernment.
What role do political parties

play in the way Australia is
governed?
Apoliticalpartyisagroupofpeoplewhosharesimilar
ideasabouthowacountryshouldbegoverned.They
worktogethertohavethepartysideasturnedinto
laws.ThemainpoliticalpartiesinAustraliaarethe
AustralianLaborParty,theLiberalPartyofAustralia,
theNationalsandtheAustralianGreens.
Mostmembersofparliamentbelongtopolitical
parties.Somemembersofparliamentdonotbelong
toanypoliticalparty.TheyarecalledIndependents.
InAustralia,youarefreetojoinapoliticalpartyif
youchoose.
How is the Australian
Government formed?
Afteranelection,thepoliticalpartyorcoalitionof
partieswiththemajorityofmembersintheHouse
ofRepresentativesformstheAustralianGovernment.
Theleaderofthispartybecomestheleaderofthe
AustralianGovernment,thePrimeMinister.
Thepartyorcoalitionofpartieswiththesecondlargest
numberofmembersintheHouseofRepresentativesis
knownastheOpposition.ItsleaderiscalledtheLeader
oftheOpposition.
ThePrimeMinisterchoosesMPsorSenatorsto
becomeministers.Ministersareresponsiblefor
importantareasofgovernment(calledportfolios),
suchasemployment,IndigenousaffairsortheTreasury.
Ministerswiththemostseniorportfoliosmakeupthe
Cabinet,whichisthekeydecisionmakingbodyofthe
AustralianGovernment.
HighCourtofAustralia
How are laws made?
CitizensofAustraliaelectpeopletorepresentthem
intheAustralianParliament.
TheAustralianParliamentmakesandchangeslaws
tobenetthenation.
AmemberoftheAustralianParliamentproposes
anewlaworachangetothelaw.Thisproposal
iscalledaBill.
TheHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenate
consider,debateandvoteonwhethertheyagree
withtheBill.
IfthemajorityofmembersineachHouseof
ParliamentagreestotheBill,itgoestothe
Governor-General.
WhentheGovernor-GeneralsignstheBill,it
becomesalaw.ThisiscalledRoyalAssent.
Stateandterritoryparliamentsmaketheirown
lawsinasimilarway.
How are laws administered?
The courts
ThecourtsinAustraliaareresponsibleforinterpreting
andapplyingthelaw.Theyareindependentofthe
government.Thecourtsdecideifapersonhasbroken
thelawornotanddecidethepenalty.Everyperson
hastherighttoberepresentedbyalawyerincourt.
Courtscanonlybasetheirdecisionontheevidence
beforethem.
Judges and magistrates
Thejudgeormagistrateisthehighestauthorityinthe
court.Judgesandmagistratesareindependentandno
onecantellthemwhattodecide.
Judgesandmagistratesareappointedbythe
government,butthegovernmentcannottaketheir
jobsawayifitdisagreeswiththeirdecisions.
28
Juries
Acourtwilluseajuryinsomecasestodecideifa
personhasbrokenthelaw.
Ajuryisagroupofordinarypeoplerandomlychosen
fromthegeneralpopulation.Thejudgeexplainsthe
lawtothejury.Inacriminaltrial,ifthejuryndsa
personguilty,thejudgedecidesthepenalty.
Underthelaw,peopleinAustraliaareconsidered
innocentuntiltheyarefoundguiltybyacourt.
The police
Thepolicemaintainpeaceandorderinthecommunity.
Itistheirjobtoprotectlifeandproperty.Theyare
independentofthegovernment.Ifthepolicebelieve
thatsomeonehasbrokenthelaw,theycanarrest
themandbringthembeforeacourtoflaw.Thepolice
maygiveevidenceincourt,butthecourtdecidesifa
personisguiltyornot.
ThestatesandtheNorthernTerritoryhavetheirown
policeforces.Theydealwithcrimesunderstateand
territorylaws.
Australiaalsohasanationalpoliceforcecalledthe
AustralianFederalPolice.TheAustralianFederalPolice
investigatescrimesagainstfederallaws,forexample,
drugtrafcking,crimesagainstnationalsecurityand
crimesagainsttheenvironment.TheAustralianFederal
Policeisalsoresponsibleforgeneralpoliceworkinthe
AustralianCapitalTerritory.
Thepoliceandthecommunityhaveagood
relationshipinAustralia.Youcanreportcrimesand
seekassistancefromyourlocalpolice.
Itisimportantforyoutobefamiliarwiththelawsin
Australia,becausenotknowingalawisnoexcusefor
breakingit.
Itisaseriouscrimetobribeapoliceofcer.Itisacrime
toevenofferabribetoapoliceofcer.
Criminal offences in Australia
Someofthemostseriouscrimesincludemurder,
assault,sexualassault,violenceagainstpeopleor
property,armedrobberyortheft,havingsexual
relationswithchildrenoryoungpeoplewhoareaged
belowthelegalageofconsent,dangerousdrivingof
amotorcar,possessionanduseofillegaldrugsand
fraud.
Asinothercountries,violencetowardsanother
personisillegalinAustraliaandisaveryseriouscrime.
Thisincludesviolencewithinthehomeandwithin
marriage,knownasdomesticorfamilyviolence.
Domesticviolenceincludesphysical,sexualor
psychologicalabuseorharm,forcedsexualrelations,
forcedisolationoreconomicdeprivation.
Carryingweaponssuchasknivesorgunsisagainstthe
lawinAustralia.Apersonwhowishestoownagun,
forexample,foruseonafarm,mustrstobtaina
rearmlicencefromthepolice.
Traffic offences
Roadandtrafcrulesarecontrolledbystateand
territorygovernments.Peoplecanbenedlarge
amountsofmoneyorevensenttoprisonforbreaking
trafclaws.TodriveacarinAustralia,youmusthavea
localdriverslicenceandthecarmustberegistered.
Everybodytravellinginacarmustwearaseatbelt.
Babiesandyoungchildrenmustbeinanapprovedcar
seat.Trafclawsrelatingtospeedinganddrivingafter
drinkingalcoholortakingdrugsareverystrict.Itisalso
againstthelawtotalkonahand-heldmobilephone
whiledriving.
In conclusion
Ourdemocraticinstitutionshavecreatedapeaceful
andstablesociety.Wehavearichanduniqueculture
toshare.AsanAustraliancitizen,youwillbecomepart
ofournationsstoryandwillcontributetoourfuture.
Australiawelcomesyou.Citizenshipisour
commonbond.
Inpreparationforthecitizenshiptest,trythepractice
testquestionsonpages34and35.

Glossary of testable section

AustralianPublicService
governmentdepartmentsandpeopleemployedbythem
PaulgotajobintheAustralianPublicServiceasaCentrelinkofcer.
civilunrest
demonstrationsandriotsbylargenumbersofpeople,usuallyprotestingagainstagovernmentdecision
orpolicy
Therewascivilunrestwhenthegovernmentpassedtheunpopularlaws.
coalition
thejoiningoftwoormorepoliticalparties,usuallytoformagovernmentoropposition
Aftertheelection,therewasnopartywithamajorityintheHouseofRepresentatives,sotwoparties
withsimilarideasjoinedtoformacoalition.
commission
agroupofpeoplewithanofcialresponsibility
Anindependentcommissionorganisestheelections.
constitutionalmonarchy
acountryinwhichakingorqueenistheheadofstate,whosepowersarelimitedbytheconstitution
OurConstitutionestablishedtheCommonwealthofAustraliaasaconstitutionalmonarchy,withthe
KingorQueenoftheUnitedKingdomasourHeadofState.
court
aplacewherelegalcasesareheardbyajudgeormagistrate
Whenpeoplebreakthelaw,theymaygotocourt.
criminaltrial
ahearingoffactsbyacourttodecideifapersonisguiltyornotguiltyofanallegedcrime.
Afterthecriminaltrial,thebankrobberwassenttojail.
democracy
governmentbythepeoplethroughelectedrepresentatives
Gracewashappytoliveinademocracywhereshecouldvoteforherrepresentativeinparliament.
drugtrafcking
carryingorbuyingdrugstosellillegally
Jesswassenttojailfordrugtrafcking.
economicdeprivation
aformofdomesticviolence,whereonepartnerinarelationshippreventstheotherpartnerfrom
receivingorhandlingmoney
Linexperiencedeconomicdeprivationbecauseherhusbandgavehernomoney.
election
aneventinwhichcitizenschooseapersontorepresenttheminparliament
Australiancitizensaged18yearsorovermustvoteinanelection.
30 AustralianCitizenship:OurCommonBond
electoralroll
thelistofpeopleentitledtovoteinanelectionorreferendum
WhenJanarrivedatthevotingcentre,theofciallookedforhernameontheelectoralroll.
enforcethelaw
tomakesurethatpeoplefollowthelaw
Policeenforcethelawandkeepthepeace.
executivepower
thepowerandauthoritytoadministerthelaws,oneofthethreepowersunderthe
AustralianConstitution
AustralianGovernmentministersandtheGovernor-Generalhaveexecutivepowertoadministerthelaws
madebytheAustralianParliament.
federation
theunionofcoloniesintoonenationwiththecoloniesretainingcertainpowers
In1901,thecolonieswereunitedintoafederationcalledtheCommonwealthofAustralia.
FirstFleet
thegroupof11shipswhichsetoutfromBritainunderCaptainArthurPhilliptoestablishaconvict
settlementinNewSouthWales
OnAustraliaDaywerememberthelandingoftheFirstFleetatSydneyCoveon26January1788.
oralemblem
nationalower
Australiasoralemblemisthegoldenwattle.
forcedisolation
aformofdomesticviolencewhereonepartnerinarelationshipcontrolswhotheotherpartnerseesand
talksto,whattheyreadandwheretheygo
Sandiwasinforcedisolationbecauseherhusbanddidnotallowhertovisitfriendsorfamily.
fromthistimeforward
fromnowandinthefuture
Atthecitizenshipceremony,youpromisetobeloyaltoAustraliafromthistimeforward.
icon
awellknownimage
TheOperaHouseisafamousSydneyicon.
Indigenouspeople
theoriginalinhabitantsofthelandinAustralia,theAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople
TheIndigenouspeopleofAustraliamakeup2.5percentoftheAustralianpopulation.
Judaeo-Christian
ofboththeJewishandtheChristianreligions
Judaeo-ChristianvaluesarethosebasedonlessonsfromtheBible.
Glossaryoftestablesection 31
judicialpower
thepowerandauthoritytointerpretandapplythelaws,oneofthethreepowersunderthe
ThecourtsinAustraliahavethejudicialpowertointerpretandapplythelaw.
legislativepower
thepowerandauthoritytomakeandchangethelaws,oneofthethreepowersunderthe
Undertheconstitution,parliamenthaslegislativepower,thatis,thepowertomakelaws.
liberties(liberty)
personalfreedomandindependence
Inourdemocraticsociety,peoplehavefreedomofspeech,freedomofexpression,freedomofreligion
andfreedomofassociation.Wevaluetheseliberties.
magistrate
ajudgeofalowercourt
Themagistratefoundthethiefguiltyandsenthimtojail.
mateship
helpingandreceivinghelpfromothers,especiallyindifculttimes
Whenmycarbrokedown,theotherdrivershelpedtopushitinthespiritofmateship.
nationalanthem
nationalsong
AustraliasnationalanthemisAdvanceAustraliaFair.
parliamentarydemocracy
asystemofgovernmentbasedontheregularelectionofrepresentativestoparliamentbythecitizens
Inaparliamentarydemocracy,thepeoplevotefortheirrepresentatives.
permanentresident
apersonwhohasavisatoworkandliveinAustraliawithnotimelimit
AbdulsJapaneseneighbourisapermanentresidentofAustraliaandworksatabank.
politicalparty
agroupofpeoplewhosharesimilarideasabouthowacountryshouldbegoverned
Membersofapoliticalpartymeetregularly,forexample,todiscussimprovementstopublictransport.
publicservice
theuseoftime,energyorskillforthegoodofthenation
JoseprovidedavaluablepublicservicebyhelpingrefugeestosettleinAustralia.
referendum
avotebyallvotersonaproposedchangetotheAustralianConstitution
Ina1967referendum,thepeoplevotedtocountIndigenousAustraliansinthecensus.
AustralianCitizenship:OurCommonBond 32
representative
apersonwhoactsorspeaksforothers
Mylocalcouncilrepresentativelikedmyideaandpresenteditatthecouncilmeeting.
review
toconsideraproposalforanewlawanddecidewhethertoacceptorrejectit
TheSenate,astheHouseofReview,debatedataxationBillfromtheLowerHouse.
secretballot
asystemofvotingwherepeoplevoteprivately,sonoonecaninuenceorpressurethemtovoteina
certainway
Inasecretballot,nooneelsewatcheswhileyouwriteyourvote.
secular
separatefromreligion
Inasecularsocietythereisnoofcialreligion.
setup
tobuild,establish,start
GovernorPhillipsetuptherstcolonyinNewSouthWales.
shire
alocalgovernmentarea
Theroadsinmyshireareverysafe.
socialsecurity
governmentpensionsorbenetstohelpunemployedpeople,disabledpeople,elderlypeopleandothers
inneed
WhenTranglostherjob,shehadtoapplyforsocialsecurity.
tryyourluck
totakeachance
Everyyear,Itrymyluckandbet$10onahorseintheMelbourneCup.
volunteer
apersonwhogivestheirtimetoapersonororganisationwithoutexpectingpayment
RazaisavolunteerwhoteachespeopleEnglishintheirhomes.
Glossaryoftestablesection 33

Practice test questions
1. What do we remember on Anzac Day?
a.ThelandingoftheAustralianand
NewZealandArmyCorpsatGallipoli,Turkey
b.ThearrivaloftherstfreesettlersfromGreat
Britain
c.ThelandingoftheFirstFleetatSydneyCove
2. What are the colours of the Australian
Aboriginal Flag?
a.Black,redandyellow
b.Green,whiteandblack
c.Blue,whiteandgreen
3. Which official symbol of Australia identifies
Commonwealth property?
a.Thenationalanthem
b.Australiasnationalower
c.CommonwealthCoatofArms
Australias democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
4. Which of these statements about Australias
system of government is correct?
a.TheQueenofAustraliachoosespeopletoform
theAustralianParliament
b.Thegovernmentiselectedbythepeople
c.ThePrimeMinisterchoosesourMembers
ofParliament
5. Which of these is an example of freedom
of speech?
a.Peoplecanpeacefullyprotestagainst
governmentdecisions
b.Menandwomenaretreatedequallyina
courtoflaw
c.Australiansarefreetonotfollowareligion
6. Which of these statements about
government in Australia is correct?
a.Thegovernmentdoesnotallowsomereligions
b.GovernmentinAustraliaissecular
c.Religiouslawsarepassedbyparliament
7. Which of these is an example of equality
in Australia?
a.Everyonefollowsthesamereligion
b.Menandwomenhavethesamerights
c.Everyonebelongstothesamepoliticalparty
8. Which of these is a responsibility of
Australian citizens aged 18 years or over?
a.Toattendlocalcouncilmeetings
b.Tovoteinelections
c.TohaveacurrentAustralianpassport
9. Which of these is a responsibility of
Australian citizens aged 18 years or over?
a.Todolocalcommunityservice
b.Tocarryapassportatalltimes
c.Toserveonajuryifcalledtodoso
10. Which of these statements about
passports is correct?
a.Australiancitizenscanapplyforan
Australianpassport
b.Permanentresidentscanholdan
Australianpassport
c.Australiancitizensneedapassport
andvisatoreturntoAustralia
Practice test questions


11. Which of these statements about voting in
Australian elections is correct?
a.Peoplearefreeandsafetovotefor
anycandidate
b.Votingisbyashowofhands
c.Peoplemustwritetheirnameontheirvote
12. What happened in Australia on
1 January 1901?
a.TheAustralianConstitutionwaschangedbya
referendum
b.TheAustralianConstitutioncameintoeffect
c.TheAustralianandNewZealandArmyCorps
wasformed
13. What is the name of the legal document
that sets out the rules for the government
of Australia?
a.TheAustralianFederation
b.TheAustralianCommonwealth
c.TheAustralianConstitution
14. What is a referendum?
a.Avotetochangethegovernment
b.AvotetochangetheAustralianConstitution
c.AvotetochangethePrimeMinister
15. Which arm of government has the power
to interpret and apply laws?
a.Legislative
b.Executive
c.Judicial
16. Which of these is a role of the
Governor-General?
a.Theappointmentofstatepremiers
b.ThesigningofBillspassedbythe
AustralianParliament
c.TheappointmentoftheHeadofState
17. Which of these statements about state
governments is correct?
a.Allstateshavethesameconstitution
b.Eachstatehasitsownconstitution
c.Thestateshavenoconstitution
18. What is the name given to the party or
coalition of parties with the second largest
number of members in the House of
Representatives?
a.TheGovernment
b.TheOpposition
c.TheSenate
19. What is the name of a proposal to make
a law in parliament?
a.RoyalAssent
b.Bill
c.Debate
20. Who maintains peace and order in
Australia?
a.Publicservants
b.Police
c.Lawyers
Answers:
1 a , 2 a , 3 c , 4 b , 5 a , 6 b , 7 b , 8 b , 9 c , 1 0 a , 1 1 a , 1 2 b , 1 3 c , 1 4 b , 1 5 c , 1 6 b , 1 7 b , 1 8 b , 1 9 b , 2 0 b
Practicetestquestions 35 35
The end of the testable section
Part 4
Australia today
Australiaisoneoftheworldsoldestlandmasses.
Itisthesixthlargestcountryintheworld.
Part 4 Australia today
Australia today
Inthesepagesyouwilllearnaboutwhatmakesthiscountrysospecial.Youwillndoutmoreaboutourculture,
ourinnovatorsandournationalidentity.Intheworldtoday,Australiaisadynamicbusinessandtradepartneranda
respectedglobalcitizen.Wevaluethecontributionofnewmigrantstoourcountrysconstantgrowthandrenewal.
The land
Australiaisuniqueinmanyways.Oftheworldssevencontinents,Australiaistheonlyonetobeoccupiedbya
singlenation.Wehavethelowestpopulationdensityintheworld,withonlytwopeoplepersquarekilometre.
Australiaisoneoftheworldsoldestlandmasses.Itisthesixthlargestcountryintheworld.Itisalsothedriest
inhabitedcontinent,soinmostpartsofAustraliawaterisaverypreciousresource.
Muchofthelandhaspoorsoil,withonly6percentsuitableforagriculture.Thedryinlandareasarecalledthe
outback.Thereisgreatrespectforpeoplewholiveandworkintheseremoteandharshenvironments.Manyof
themhavebecomepartofAustralianfolklore.
BecauseAustraliaissuchalargecountry,theclimatevariesindifferentpartsofthecontinent.Therearetropical
regionsinthenorthofAustraliaanddesertsinthecentre.
Furthersouth,thetemperaturescanchangefromcoolwinterswithmountainsnow,toheatwavesinsummer.
Inadditiontothesixstatesandtwomainlandterritories,theAustralianGovernmentalsoadministers,asterritories,
AshmoreandCartierIslands,ChristmasIsland,theCocos(Keeling)Islands,JervisBayTerritory,theCoralSeaIslands,
HeardIslandandMcDonaldIslandsintheAustralianAntarcticTerritory,andNorfolkIsland.
Part4Australiatoday 39 39
World Heritage sites
Morethan11percentofourcontinentisprotectedIndigenousland,areserveoranationalparkthatismanaged
forconservationaccordingtointernationalstandards.SeventeenAustraliansitesarelistedontheUnitedNations
Educational,ScienticandCulturalOrganization(UNESCO)WorldHeritageList.
AustralianFossilMammalSitesin
SouthAustraliaandQueensland
GondwanaRainforestsofNewSouthWales
andQueensland
KakaduNationalParkinthe
NorthernTerritory
FraserIslandoffthecoastofsouthern
Queensland
GreatBarrierReefinQueensland LordHoweIslandoffthecoastof
NewSouthWales
GreaterBlueMountainswestofSydney eardIslandandMcDonaldIslandsinthe
ustralianAntarcticTerritory
MacquarieIslandtothesouthofTasmania H
A
PurnululuNationalParkinWesternAustralia SydneyOperaHouse WetTropicsofQueensland
RoyalExhibitionBuildingandCarlton
GardensinMelbourne
TasmanianWilderness WillandraLakesinNewSouthWales
SharkBayinWesternAustralia Uluru-KataTjutaNationalParkinthe
NorthernTerritory
Weencourageyoutobroaden
yourexperienceofAustralia
byvisitingtheseandother
amazinglandmarks.Youcan
walkthedesertortheshore,the
mountainsortherainforests.
Everystepyoutakeisastep
closertobelongingtothisvast
andvibrantland.
A vast country
ThevastnessofAustraliahasgivenriseto
innovationandinvention.
Intheearlydays,peopleintheoutback
sometimeshadtotravelforseveraldaystovisit
thenearestdoctor.Manychildreninthebush
livedtoofarawaytoattenddayschools.
Outbackfamiliesfoundtheisolationhardto
bear.Largecattlestationscouldbethousandsof
squarekilometresinsize.Womenandchildren
wholivedtheremightnotseeanotherpersonfor
months.Therewerenotelephonesandpeople
feltextremelyisolatedandvulnerable.
ThesewereproblemsthatgreatAustralians
solvedthroughingenuityandinnovation.
The pedal radio
In1929,AlfredTraegar,fromAdelaide,designed
therstpedal-poweredradio.Userscouldkeepa
two-wayradiogoingbypushingthepedalswith
theirfeet.Lonelyhomesteads,remotemission
stationsandAboriginalcommunitiesallbeneted
fromthisinvention.Isolatedwomencouldnow
makefriendswitheachotheracrosstheairwaves.
Thepedalradiohelpedtoestablishtwogreat
Australianinstitutions,theRoyalFlyingDoctor
ServiceandtheSchooloftheAir.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service
ReverendJohnFlynnlivedandworkedwith
peopleinremotecommunities.Hisideawasto
bringthedoctortothepatientintheoutback
asquicklyaspossible,byair.Hereceivedhelp
fromthegovernment,theairlineQantasand
charitabledonations.TheRoyalFlyingDoctor
Servicebeganin1928buttherewerestillpeople
inremoteplaceswhocouldnotcalltheservice.
Theintroductionofthepedalradioensuredthat
peopleinmoreisolatedstationscouldcallfora
doctorassoonaspossible.
The School of the Air
Untilthe1950s,childrenlivinginisolatedplaces
hadtoattendboardingschoolorcompletetheir
lessonsbymail.
AdelaideMiethke,Vice-PresidentoftheRoyal
FlyingDoctorServiceinSouthAustralia,realised
thattheFlyingDoctorradioservicecouldalso
helpchildrenathometalkwiththeirteachers.
TheAliceSpringsservicebegantoairthesetwo-
waylessonsin1948.TheSchooloftheAirwas
formallyestablishedafewyearslater.Australias
SchooloftheAirhasalsohelpedmanyother
countriestosetuptheirownsimilarprograms.
Theoldpedalradiohasnowbeenreplacedwith
highfrequencyreceivers,buttheRoyalFlying
DoctorServiceofAustraliaandtheSchoolofthe
Aircontinuetoserveandbenetthepeoplein
Australiasremotecommunities.
ChildrenstudyingthroughtheSchooloftheAirinNewSouthWales
Australias identity
Australiasidentityhasbeenshapedbyouruniqueheritage,ourcultureandtheenterprisingcharacter
ofourpeople.
Sport and recreation
ManyAustralianslovesportandmanyhaveachieved
impressiveresultsataninternationallevel.
Weareproudofourreputationasanationofgood
sports.Australiansportsmenandwomenareadmired
asambassadorsforthevaluesofhardwork,fairplay
andteamwork.
Throughoutourhistory,sporthasbothcharacterised
theAustralianpeopleandunitedus.Fromearly
settlement,sportprovidedanescapefromthe
realitiesofaharshexistence.Evenduringwartime,
membersoftheAustralianDefenceForceorganised
sportingcompetitionstohelprelievethestressofthe
battleground.
Sportalsoprovidesacommongroundthatallowsboth
playersandspectatorstofeelincludedandapartof
somethingthatisimportanttoAustraliansociety.
ManyAustraliansparticipateinteamsports.Cricket,
basketball,netball,hockeyandthefootballcodesare
amongthemostpopular.
Swimming,tennis,athletics,golfandcyclingare
popularrecreationalactivities.Theyarealsosports
thatAustraliansexcelatininternationalcompetitions.
Otherpopularphysicalactivitiesincludebushwalking,
surngandskiing.
Australiansalsoplayandlovetowatchfootball(also
knownassoccer),rugbyleague,rugbyunionand
AustralianRulesfootball.AussieRulesisauniquely
Australiangame.
Australiaisespeciallyproudofitsinternational
successesinthegameofcricket.Australianand
Englishcricketteamshavehadanintenserivalrysince
thelate19thcentury.
TheMelbourneCup,theracethatstopsthenation,is
oneoftherichestandmostchallenginghorseracesin
theworld.TherstMelbourneCupwasheldin1861.
TherstTuesdayinNovember,MelbourneCupDay,
hasbeenapublicholidayinVictoriasince1877.
IanThorpe,ve-timeOlympicgoldmedallist
MemberoftheAustralianWomensNationalFootballteam
Sir Donald Bradman (1908 2001)
SirDonaldBradmanisthegreatestcricketbatsmanofall-timeandisan
Australiansportinglegend.
RaisedinBowral,NewSouthWales,DonaldBradmanplayedhisrstgameof
cricketfortheAustralianteamin1928.
Hewasslightbutamazinglyquickonhisfeet.OnhisrsttourofEnglandin
1930,hebrokenearlyallthebattingrecords.Byage21,hewasalreadyan
Australianlegend.
OnBradmansnaltourin1948,histeambecameknownasTheInvincibles,
astheydidnotloseasinglematchtheyplayedagainstEngland.
SirDonaldBradman,knownasTheDon,isrecognisedastheworldsbesteverbatsman.Histestbatting
averagewas99.94.
The Arts
Australiahasavibrantartsscenethatincludesthe
nationsIndigenousculturaltraditionsandrich
assortmentofmigrantcultures.Allformsofthe
Australianvisualandperformingarts,includinglm,
art,theatre,musicanddance,drawadmirationboth
hereandoverseas.
Literature
Australiahasastrongliterarytraditionwhichstarted
withthestorytellingofIndigenousAustraliansand
continuedwiththeoralstoriesoftheconvictsarriving
inthelate18thcentury.
MuchofAustraliasearlywritingisaboutthebush
andthedifcultiesoflifeinsuchaharshenvironment.
WriterssuchasHenryLawsonandMilesFranklinwrote
poemsandstoriesaboutthebushandtheAustralian
wayoflife.
AnAustraliannovelist,PatrickWhite,receivedthe
NobelPrizeinLiteraturein1973.Otherpopular
moderndayAustraliannovelistsincludePeterCarey,
ColleenMcCulloughandTimWinton.
Judith Wright (1915 2000)
JudithWrightwas
anoutstandingpoet,
conservationistand
campaignerfor
Aboriginalrights.
SheisoneofAustralias
bestlovedpoets.She
expressedherlovefor
Australiaanditspeople
inherpoetry.Shewas
awardedmanyprizes
includingtheEncyclopaediaBritannicaPrizefor
literatureandtheQueensGoldMedalforPoetry.
ShewasamemberoftheAustralianConservation
CommitteeandtheAboriginalTreatyCommittee.
JudithWrightisrememberedforherskillasa
poetandforadvancingAustralianliteratureand
socialandenvironmentalreform.

Theatre and film
Australianplays,lmsandlmmakersarerecognised
andlovedhereandoverseas.Australianactorssuch
asCateBlanchettandGeoffreyRush,andlmmakers
suchasPeterWeirhavewonmanyinternational
awardsfortheirexcellenceinlm.
Art
ThemostrecognisedAustralianworksofartare
theiconicIndigenouspaintingsandthe19thcentury
bushscenesofpainterssuchasTomRoberts,
FrederickMcCubbinandArthurStreeton.Inthemid
20thcentury,artistsRussellDrysdaleandSidneyNolan
depictedtheharshnessoftheoutbackinboldcolour.
Morerecently,BrettWhiteleygainedinternational
acclaimforhisuniqueandvividstyle.
Music and dance
Australianshaveembracedandexcelledinallareas
ofmusicandareinternationallyrecognisedfortheir
contributionstoclassical,countryandrockmusic.The
mostimmediatelyrecognised,purelyAustraliansound
isthatofthedidgeridoo,theancientinstrumentofthe
Aboriginalpeople.
Australiandancehasourishedduetotheefforts
ofgreatdancersandchoreographerssuchas
SirRobertHelpmann,MerylTankardand
StephenPage.
Scientific achievement and invention
Australianshaveastrongrecordofscientic
achievementsandadvancesintheeldsofmedicine,
technology,agriculture,miningandmanufacturing.
NineAustralianshavebeenawardedtheNobelPrize
forscienticandmedicaldiscoveries.
ScienticachievershavealsoreceivedAustralianof
theYearAwards.In2005,theawardwentto
ProfessorFionaWood,whodevelopedaspray-on
skinforburnsvictims.In2006,theawardwentto
ProfessorIanFrazer,whodevelopedthecervicalcancer
vaccine.In2007,ProfessorTimFlannery,aleading
environmentalscientist,receivedtheaward.
ProfessorWoodandProfessorFrazerbothmigrated
toAustraliafromBritain.ProfessorFrazersco-inventor
wasthelateDrJianZhou,whomigratedfromChina
andalsobecameanAustraliancitizen.
ConductorandrecentcitizenshipconfereeVladimirVerbitskywith
theWesternAustralianSymphonyOrchestra
Professor Fred Hollows
(1929 1993)
ProfessorFredHollows
wasapassionate
ophthalmologist(eye
doctor)whohelped
restoreeyesightto
overonemillion
peopleinAustraliaand
developingcountries.
FredHollowswasborn
inNewZealand.In
1965,hemovedtoAustraliaandlaterbecamethe
headofanEyeDepartmentataSydneyhospital.
Hebelievedstronglyinequalityforallpeopleand
helpedsetuptherstAboriginalMedicalService.
Therearenow60acrossAustralia.
By1980,FredHollowswastravellingallover
theworldtohelpsetupeyehealthprogramsin
developingcountries.HebecameanAustralian
citizeninApril1989.
ProfessorHollowssgoodworkcontinuesthrough
hiswife,Gabi,andTheFredHollowsFoundation.
Australians of the Year

Since1960,theAustralianoftheYearAwardshavecelebratedtheachievementandcontributionofleading
Australians.AnyonecannominateanAustralianfromanywalkoflifeforanaward.AustraliansoftheYearare
peoplewhohaveexcelledintheirworkandservedthenation.
2013 ItaButtroseAOOBE 1998 CathyFreeman
Mediaicon WorldandOlympicAthleticsChampion
2012 GeoffreyRush
andIndigenousAmbassador
Oscar-winningactor
1997 ProfessorPeterDoherty
2011 SimonMcKeon
NobelLaureateinMedicine
Socialentrepreneur
1996 DoctorJohnYuAM
2010 ProfessorPatrickMcGorry
Paediatrician
Mentalhealthexpert
1995 ArthurBoydACOBE
2009 ProfessorMichaelDodsonAM
Artist
IndigenousLeader
1994 IanKiernanOAM
2008 LeeKernaghanOAM
CleanUpAustraliaCampaigner
Singer,MusicianandFounderof
1992 MandawuyYunupingu
PasstheHatAroundTours IndigenousLeader
2007 ProfessorTimFlannery 1991 ArchbishopPeterHollingworthAOOBE
Scientist,AuthorandConservationist SocialJusticeAdvocate
2006 ProfessorIanFrazer 1990 ProfessorFredHollowsAC
ClinicalImmunologist Ophthalmologist
2005 ProfessorFionaWoodAM 1989 AllanBorderAO
PlasticSurgeonandBurnsSpecialist TestCricketCaptain
2004 SteveWaugh 1988 KayCotteeAO
TestCricketCaptainandHumanitarian Record-breakingSoloYachtswoman
2003 ProfessorFionaStanleyAC 1987 JohnFarnham
PaediatricianandEpidemiologist SingerandMusician
2002 PatrickRafter 1986 DickSmith
USOpenTennisChampionandFounder AdventurerandPhilanthropist
ofCherishtheChildrenFoundation
1985 PaulHoganAM
2001 LtGeneralPeterCosgroveACMC
Actor
ChiefoftheAustralianArmy2000-2002
1984 LowitjaODonoghueCBEAM
2000 SirGustavNossalACCBEFAAFRS
IndigenousLeader
ResearchBiologist
1983 RobertdeCastellaMBE
1999 MarkTaylor
WorldMarathonRunningChampion
TestCricketCaptain
Theirachievementsmakeusthinkaboutwhatmorewecandotocontributetoourgreatcountry.Theawards
nowincludeYoungAustralianoftheYear,SeniorAustralianoftheYearandAustraliasLocalHero.
1982 SirEdwardWilliamsKCMGKBE
Commissioner,AustralianRoyal
CommissionofInquiryintoDrugs
1981 SirJohnCrawfordACCBE
ArchitectofAustraliasPost-WarGrowth
1980 ManningClarkAC
Historian
1979* SenatorNevilleBonnerAO
FirstAboriginalSenator
1979* HarryButlerCBE
ConservationistandNaturalist
1978* AlanBond
Entrepreneur
1978* GalarrwuyYunupinguAM
IndigenousLeader
1977* SirMurrayTyrrellKCVOCBE
OfceSecretarytotheGovernor-General
1977* DameRaighRoeDBE
CountryWomensAssociationLeader
1976 SirEdwardWearyDunlopACCMGOBE
MilitarySurgeon
1975* SirJohnCornforthACCBE
NobelLaureateinChemistry
1975* MajorGeneralAlanStrettonAOCBE
CommanderofDarwinReliefOperation
afterCycloneTracy
1974 SirBernardHeinzeAC
ConductorandMusician
1973 PatrickWhite
NobelLaureateinLiterature
1972 ShaneGouldMBE
OlympicSwimmingChampion
1971 EvonneGoolagongCawleyAOMBE
WimbledonandFrenchOpen
TennisChampion
1970 HisEminenceCardinalSirNorman
GilroyKBE
FirstAustralian-bornCardinal
1969 TheRtHonRichardGardinerCaseyBaron
ofBerwick,VictoriaandoftheCityof
WestministerKGGCMGCH
Governor-GeneralofAustralia1965-69
1968 LionelRoseMBE
WorldBoxingChampion
1967 TheSeekers
MusicalGroup
1966 SirJackBrabhamOBE
WorldMotorRacingChampion
1965 SirRobertHelpmannCBE
Actor,Dancer,Producerand
Choreographer
1964 DawnFraserMBE
OlympicSwimmingChampion
1963 SirJohnEcclesAC
1962 AlexanderJockSturrockMBE
SkipperofAmericasCupChallengers
1961 DameJoanSutherlandOMACDBE
Soprano
1960 SirFrankMacFarlaneBurnetOMAKKBE
*Between1975and1979theCanberraAustraliaDay
CouncilalsorecognisedanAustralianoftheYear.
Thepostnominalsnotedaftertheawardrecipients
namewerecurrentatthetimetheawardwas
received.
Part4Australiatoday 47
Australian currency
OurcurrencydepictspeopleandiconsthatareimportanttoAustralia.ThefamousAustralianschosentoappearon
ourcurrencyarepeoplewhohaveshowninitiativeandgreattalentintheareasofsocialreform,science,politics,
militaryaccomplishmentandthearts.
Old and New Parliament House
The$5noteshowsbothOldParliamentHouseand
NewParliamentHouseinCanberra.
Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926)
QueenElizabethIIisAustraliasHeadofState.Sheis
theQueenofAustraliaandoftheUnitedKingdom
andlivesinEngland.Shehasbeenastrong,stable
presencethroughoutherlongandpopularreign.
Dame Mary Gilmore (1865 1962)
DameMaryGilmorewasanauthor,journalist,poet
andcampaignerforsocialreform.Sheisremembered
forherwritingandforspeakingonbehalfofwomen,
IndigenousAustraliansandpoorpeople.
AB Banjo Paterson (1864 1941)
AndrewBartonPatersonwasapoet,songwriterand
journalist.HewroteunderthenameBanjoPaterson
andisrememberedforWaltzingMatilda,themost
famousfolksonginAustralia.
Reverend John Flynn (1880 1951)
ReverendJohnFlynnbegantheworldsrstairborne
medicalservice,theRoyalFlyingDoctorServiceof
Australia.Heisrememberedforsavingmanylivesby
bringinghealthservicestoremoteareasofAustralia.
Mary Reibey (1777 1855)
MaryReibeywasapioneerbusinesswomaninthe
colonyofNewSouthWales.AfterarrivinginAustralia
asateenagedconvictsettler,shebecamearespected
leaderinthecommunity.
Edith Cowan (1861 1932)
EdithCowanwasasocialworker,politicianand
feminist.Shewastherstfemaleelectedtoany
Australianparliament.
David Unaipon (1872 1967)
DavidUnaiponwasawriter,publicspeakerand
inventor.Heisrememberedforhiscontributions
toscienceandliterature,andforimprovingthe
conditionsofAboriginalpeople.
Sir John Monash (1865 1931)
SirJohnMonashwasanengineer,administratorand
oneofAustraliasgreatestmilitarycommanders.He
isrememberedforhisleadership,intelligenceand
eloquence.
Dame Nellie Melba (1861 1931)
DameNellieMelbawasaworldfamoussoprano.
KnownaroundtheworldastheQueenofSong,
shewastherstAustraliansingertobecome
internationallyrenowned.
National days and celebrations

AustraliasnationalholidaysreectourJudaeo-Christianheritageandcelebratethemilestonesthathaveshapedthe
AustralianidentitysinceEuropeansettlement.
Fixed dates
NewYearsDay1January
Wecelebratethestartofthenewyear.
AustraliaDay26January
WecelebratewhatitmeanstobeAustralianand
rememberthearrivaloftheFirstFleetatSydneyCove
in1788.
AnzacDay25April
WerememberthelandingoftheAustralianand
NewZealandArmyCorps(ANZAC)atGallipoliduring
WorldWarI.WealsohonourallAustralianswho
haveservedanddiedinconicts.
ChristmasDay25December
Agift-givingdaybasedontheChristiancelebration
ofthebirthofJesusChrist.
BoxingDay26December
PartoftheChristmascelebration.
Variable dates
LabourDayorEightHourDay
CelebratestheAustralianworkerswinofthe
eight-hourworkdayaworldrst.
Easter
CommemoratestheChristianstoryofthedeath
andresurrectionofJesusChrist.
QueensBirthday
CelebratesthebirthofAustraliasHeadofState,
QueenElizabethII.Thiscelebrationisheldonthe
secondMondayinJuneineverystateandterritory
exceptWesternAustralia.
Other public holidays
Otherpublicholidaysareheldindifferentstates,
territoriesandcities.Forexample,theAustralian
CapitalTerritoryhasCanberraDay,SouthAustralia
hasVolunteersDayandWesternAustraliahas
FoundationDay.
Important non-public holiday dates
HarmonyDay21March
AdaywhereallAustralianscelebrateourcultural
diversity.
AustralianCitizenshipDay17September
Adaywherewecelebratethecommonbond
representedbyAustraliancitizenshipandreectonthe
roleweplayinshapingourcountrysfuture.
WalangariKarntawarraAboriginalartist,teacherandperformer.
Image not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Australian people
Australiahasapopulationofabout22millionpeople
andoneofthemostdiversesocietiesintheworld.
IndigenousAustraliansmakeup2.5percentofthe
totalpopulation.OveronequarterofAustralias
residentswerebornoverseas,andhavemigratedfrom
over200countries.Thediversityofthepopulation
providesAustraliawitharichvarietyoflanguages,
beliefs,traditionsandcultures.
AustraliasformaltieswithGreatBritainhave
diminishedovertimebuttheinuenceofGreatBritain
survivesinAustraliasinstitutions.Italsosurvivesin
manyofourvaluesand,ofcourse,inournational
language.Whileover200differentlanguagesare
spokenathomeandinthecommunity(including
manydifferentIndigenouslanguages),Englishisan
importantpartofournationalidentity.
AustralianpeopletakeprideinAustraliancitizenship,
whichisthesingleunifyingbondinourdiversesociety.
AustralianCitizenshipDayiscelebratedon
17Septembereachyear.Onthisday,Australians
publiclyafrmtheirloyaltyandcommitmentto
Australia.ItisadayforallAustraliancitizenstoreect
ontheroleweplayinbuildingournationandshaping
ourcountrysfuture.
Australias economy
Australiahasastableandcompetitiveeconomy.We
valueourvibrantandskilledworkforce.Thequalityof
lifeenjoyedbypeopleinAustraliaisoneofthehighest
intheworld.
Dick Smith (born 1944)
DickSmithisaleadingAustralian
businessman,adventurerand
philanthropist.
DickSmithmadehisrstfortune
inhiselectronicsbusiness.Hehas
usedhiswealthtoadvanceAustralia.Hestarted
upanAustralian-onlyfoodcompanyandhehas
investedmillionsofdollarstohelpkeepcompanies
Australian-owned.
HewasnamedAustralianoftheYearin1986and
haswonanawardfortechnicaladvancementand
environmentalpreservation.Hewastherstperson
tocrossAustralia,andtheTasmanSea,inahotair
balloon.Heisknownforhisadventurousspirit,his
successinbusinessandhisdeeploveofAustralia.
The market
Australiasstableandmodernnancialinstitutions
andstricttaxandtradingregulationsgivecertainty
tobusinessactivity.Theserviceindustry,whichincludes
tourism,educationandnancialservices,formnearly
70percentofAustraliasgrossdomesticproduct
(GDP).
Australiaseconomicstabilitymakesitanappealing
destinationforinvestment.Australiasstockmarket
isthesecondbiggestintheAsia-Pacicregionafter
Japans.
Trade
AustraliaslargesttradingpartnersareJapan,China,
theUnitedStates,SouthKorea,NewZealandandthe
UnitedKingdom.Weareamajorexporterofwheat,
wool,ironore,mineralsandgold.Wealsoexport
energyintheformsofliqueednaturalgasandcoal.
Oureconomyisopenandtradehasalwaysbeenavital
partofoureconomicprosperity.Australianexports
recentlytotalledwellover$200billion.
Mining
Australiaisrichinnaturalresourcessuchascoal,
copper,liqueednaturalgasandmineralsands.These
areinhighdemand,especiallyinthedeveloping
economiesinAsia.
Australiaslargestexportsectorismineralsandfuels

Australia as a global citizen

Australiaisproudofitsroleasagoodinternational
citizen.Weshowthisbyhelpingthoselessfortunate
thanourselvesaroundtheworld.
Australias international aid and
humanitarian efforts
TheAustralianGovernmentsinternationalaidprogram
supportsdevelopingcountriestoreducepoverty
andachievesustainabledevelopment.Weprovide
thissupportinourregionandaroundtheworldby
assistingpeopleandgovernments.
Australiansshowenormousgenerositywhendisasters
occurinourcountryoroverseas.Wealsodonate
regularlytocountriesthatexperienceongoing
suffering.Australiascommitmenttoouraidprogram
reectsthisfeatureoftheAustraliancharacter.
AustralianreliefoperationinIndonesiaafterthe2004Indian
Oceantsunami
Australias active participation in
international forums
AustraliahasbeenanactivememberoftheUnited
Nations(UN)fromitsbeginningin1945.Underthe
1951UNRefugeeConvention,Australiaprovides
protectionforpeoplewhohavebeenidentiedas
refugeesunderthe1951UNRefugeeConvention.
WealsocontributetoUNpeacekeepingeffortsand
humanitarianandemergencyresponsesfordeveloping
countries,andhaveastronginvolvementinthe
UnitedNationsEducational,ScienticandCultural
Organization.
In1971,Australiabecameafullmemberofthe
OrganisationforEconomicCooperationand
Development(OECD).TheOECDaimstoimprove
economic,socialandemploymentconditionsinits
30membercountriesandinotherdeveloping
countries.Atthesametime,theOECDaimsto
expandworldtrade.
Australiastronglysupportsclosercooperationinthe
Asia-Pacicregion.Australiaisanactivememberof
theAsia-PacicEconomicCooperation(APEC),the
EastAsiaSummit(EAS),theASEANRegionalForum
(ARF)andthePacicIslandsForum(PIF).
Dr Catherine Hamlin AC
(born 1924)
DrCatherineHamlin
isagynaecologist,
renownedforsaving
youngEthiopian
womenfromalifeof
suffering.
Since1959,Catherine
Hamlinhasworked
inAddisAbabain
Ethiopiahelping
womenwiththe
childbirthinjuryknownasobstetricstula.
Womenwiththisproblemcannotcontroltheir
bodilyfunctionsandsotheyaremadeoutcasts
fromsociety.
CatherineandherhusbandestablishedtheAddis
AbabaFistulaHospital.Theireffortshavemeant
thousandsofwomenareabletoreturnhometo
leadfull,healthylivesintheirvillages.
In1995,DrCatherineHamlinwasmadea
CompanionoftheOrderofAustralia,thehighest
Australianaward.Shecontinuestoworkforthe
womenofEthiopia.
Australiatodayisavastandgrowingcountry,proud
ofitsachievementsinsport,theartsandscience.
Wevaluethequalityoflifeofourpeople,butweare
alwaysaiminghigher.
Throughinternationalaidanddevelopmentassistance,
Australiahascarrieditssenseoffairplaybeyondthe
sportseldandintotheglobalcommunity.
Australian Nobel Laureates

Australiaisrenownedforscienticandmedicalresearch.ElevenAustralianshavebeenmadeNobelLaureates
intheseelds.
Professor William Bragg (1862 1942) and Lawrence Bragg (1890 1971) Physicists.
WilliamBragg(father)andLawrenceBragg(son)werejointwinnersoftheNobelPrizeinPhysics1915,fortheir
servicesintheanalysisofcrystalstructurebymeansofX-rays.
Sir Howard Walter Florey (1898 1968) Pathologist.
BorninAdelaide,SouthAustralia,HowardFloreyreceivedtheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine1945(jointly)
forthediscoveryofpenicillinanditscurativeeffectinvariousinfectiousdiseases.
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet (1899 1985) Medical Scientist and Biologist.
BorninVictoria,FrankBurnetwasawardedtheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine1960(jointly)fordiscovery
ofacquiredimmunologicaltolerance.
Sir John Carew Eccles (1903 1997) Physiologist.
JohnEccleswasborninMelbourneandreceivedtheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine1963(jointly)for
discoveriesconcerningtheionicmechanismsinvolvedinexcitationandinhibitionintheperipheralandcentral
portionsofthenervecellmembrane.
Professor John Warcup Cornforth (1917 2007) Chemist.
JohnCornforthwasborninSydneyandreceivedtheNobelPrizeinChemistry1975(jointly)forhisworkonthe
stereochemistryofenzyme-catalyzedreactions.
Professor Peter Doherty (born 1940) Immunologist.
PeterDohertywasborninQueenslandandreceivedtheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine1996(jointly)for
discoveriesconcerningthespecicityofthecellmediatedimmunedefence.
Professor Barry Marshall (born 1951) Gastroenterologist and
Doctor Robin Warren (born 1937) Pathologist.
BarryMarshallandRobinWarrenwerejointwinnersoftheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine2005fortheir
discoveryofthebacteriumHelicobacterpylorianditsroleingastritisandpepticulcerdisease.
Professor Elizabeth Helen Blackburn (born 1948) Biologist.
ElizabethBlackburnwasborninHobartandreceivedtheNobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicine2009(jointly)
forthediscoveryofhowchromosomesareprotectedbytelomeresandtheenzymetelomerase.
Professor Brian Schmidt (born 1967) Astronomer.
BrianP.SchmidtreceivedtheNobelPrizeinPhysics2011(jointly)forthediscoveryoftheacceleratingexpansionof
theUniversethroughobservationsofdistantsupernovae.
AustraliaalsohasoneNobelLaureateinLiterature.
Patrick White (1912 1990) Novelist and Playwright.
BorninLondontoAustralianparents,PatrickWhitewasawardedtheNobelPrizeinLiteraturein1973foranepic
andpsychologicalnarrativeartwhichhasintroducedanewcontinentintoliterature.
Part4Australiatoday 53
54
Part 5
Our Australian story
TheIndigenousculturesofAustralia
aretheoldestcontinuingculturesintheworld.
Our Australian story

ThisbriefhistoryofAustraliaisbynomeansthe
fullstory,butitwillgiveyouanideaoftheevents
thathaveshapedourcountryandourculture.For
thousandsofyearsthelandwasinhabitedandcared
forbytheIndigenouspeople.Thearrivalofthe
FirstFleetin1788meanttheirworldwouldchange
forever.Overthepast200years,Australiahaslearnt
manylessonsaboutequalityandhumanrightson
itspathtowardsmulticulturalismandreconciliation.
ThereformswehavemademeanthattheAustralian
communitythatyouarenowjoiningisonewhere
everypersonfeelsincludedandvalued.
Indigenous Australians
TheIndigenousculturesofAustraliaaretheoldest
continuingculturesintheworld.AustraliasIndigenous
peoplehavelivedhereforbetween40000and
60000years.
TheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercultures
differfromeachother.Theyhavetheirownlanguages
andtraditions.
Historically,Aboriginalpeoplearefrommainland
AustraliaandTasmania.TorresStraitIslandersare
fromtheislandsbetweenthetipofQueensland
andPapuaNewGuinea.TorresStraitIslandersshare
manyculturalsimilaritieswiththepeopleof
PapuaNewGuineaandotherPacicislands.
Languages
BeforeBritishsettlement,over700languagesand
dialectswereusedbyAboriginalandTorresStrait
Islanderpeople.About145languagesarestillused
today.Therewasnowrittenlanguage.Theoral
historiesoftheIndigenousculturesareextremely
importantbecausetheytellthestoryofthepeopleand
theland.Forexample,storiessuchasthoseexplaining
theoodingofPortPhillipBayinVictoriarefertoan
actualeventthathappened10000yearsago.
The Dreaming and Indigenous arts
DifferentIndigenousclanshavetheirownname
forwhatwe,inEnglish,calltheDreaming.The
Dreaming,orDreamtime,isthesystemofknowledge,
faithandpracticethatguidesIndigenouslife.It
showspeoplehowtheyshouldliveandhowthey
shouldbehave.Peoplewhodonotobeyitsrulesare
punished.
KakaduAboriginalart
ThestoriesoftheDreamingweretoldtochildren
bytheirparentsandelders.Thesestoriestaught
thechildrenhowtheirlandcametobeshapedand
inhabited,andhowtobehaveandwhy.Thestories
alsogavethechildrenvaluablepracticallessons,for
example,wheretondfood.
Indigenousmusic,songanddancetellstoriesofthe
Dreamingandeverydaylife.WhenIndigenouspeople
singanddance,theyfeelaverydeepconnectionto
theirancestors.
TheoriginalformsofAboriginalartwererockcarvings
orpaintingsandgrounddesigns.Someoftheseare
30000yearsold.PeoplefromCentralAustralia
paintedwithdotsandcirclesrepresentingthelandor
storiesfromtheDreaming.Thoseinthenorthernparts
ofAustraliapaintedguresofhumans,animalsand
spirits.
TheDreamingcontinuestobeimportanttoIndigenous
peopletoday.
The first Europeans to Australia

Early European exploration
Inthe17thcentury,Europeanexplorersdiscovered
partsofwhattheycalledTerraAustralisIncognita,
theunknownlandofthesouth.In1606aDutchman,
WillemJanszoon,chartedthewesternsideofCape
YorkPeninsulaatthenortherntipofAustralia.At
aboutthistime,aSpanishshipleadbyLuisVaezde
Torressailedthroughthestraitatthenorthofthe
continent.
Laterinthe1600s,Dutchsailorsexploredthecoast
ofWesternAustralia.TheDutchcalledthisland
NewHolland.
In1642,AbelTasmandiscoveredthecoastofa
newlandthathenamedVanDiemensLand(now
Tasmania).Healsochartedthousandsofmilesof
Australiancoast.HisincompletemapofNewHolland
showsthathebelievedthelandwasjoinedto
PapuaNewGuineainthenorth.
WilliamDampierwastherstEnglishmantosetfoot
onAustraliansoil.In1684,helandedonthenorth-
westcoast.Thelandwasdryanddustysohedidnot
consideritusefulfortradeorsettlement.
Captain James Cook
TheeastcoastofAustraliawasnotexploredby
EuropeansuntilEnglishmanJamesCookreacheditin
1770inhisship,theEndeavour.Cookhadbeensent
bytheBritishGovernmentonavoyageofdiscovery
totheSouthPacic.Hechartedtheeastcoastand
landedatBotanyBay,justsouthofmodernSydney.
JamesCookcalledthislandNewSouthWales,and
claimeditforKingGeorgeIII.
AbelTasmansmapofNewHolland,1644
Convict transportation
AustraliaisuniqueinthatmostofitsrstEuropean
settlerswereconvicts.AftertheUnitedStatesof
Americaachievedindependence,GreatBritaincould
nolongersenditsconvictsthere.Britishprisons
becameverycrowded.Whentheconvictnumbers
grewtoolarge,theBritishGovernmenthadtonda
newplaceforthem.In1786,GreatBritaindecidedto
sendtheconvictstothenewcolonyof
NewSouthWales.Thiswascalledtransportation.
The first colony
TherstgovernorofthecolonyofNewSouthWales
wasCaptainArthurPhillip.Hebroughtthersteet
of11shipssafelyfromBritaintotheothersideofthe
world.Hetookgreatcareoverthefeedingandwelfare
oftheconvictsandveryfewdiedonthevoyage.
CaptainPhillipledtheFirstFleetintoSydneyCoveon
26January1788.Itisontheanniversaryofthisday
thatwecelebrateAustraliaDayeachyear.
TheFirstFleetsailedfromBritain,arrivinginSydneyCovein1788
The early years
Theearlyyearsofsettlementwereveryhard.
GovernorPhillipmadesurethatpeopledidntstarve
byputtingeveryoneonthesamerations,including
himselfandhisofcers.Hiscommonsenseand
determinationhelpedthecolonysurvivethoserst
difcultyears.
Thehardworkoftheearlysettlementwasdoneby
theforcedlabouroftheconvicts.Theywereogged
iftheydidnotworkhardoriftheyranawayorgot
drunk.Iftheycommittedaseriouscrime,theywere
senttoaremotesettlementorhanged.Convictswho
completedtheirsentencesbecamefreemenand
womenandmovedintothecommunitytoworkand
raisefamilies.
New opportunities
TherstEuropeanpopulationofAustraliawasmade
upofEnglish,Scottish,WelshandIrishpeople.The
Scottish,WelshandIrishhadoftenbeenatwarwith
theEnglishinthepast,butinAustralia,thefour
groupslivedandworkedcloselytogether.
Convictsandex-convictsbegantondnew
opportunitiesinthecolony.Themilitaryofcersused
theirtimetomakemoneybytradingandemployed
convictsandex-convictstohelpthem.Soon,someof
theex-convictsweresettingupbusinessesontheir
ownasmerchants.Otherex-convictsdidwell
asfarmers,tradesmen,shopkeepersandpublicans.
Ex-convictwomenalsodidwellinbusinessandin
manywaysenjoyedmorefreedomthanwomen
inEngland.
Caroline Chisholm (1808 1877)
CarolineChisholm
wasaleadingsocial
reformerwho
improvedthesituation
ofsinglewomeninthe
earlycolonies.
Carolinecameto
Australiawithher
armyofcerhusband
andvechildrenin
1838.Shehelpedthe
migrantwomenwhowerelivingonthestreetsof
Sydney.Withinafewyears,shesetup16migrant
womenshostelsaroundthecolony.
Carolineworkedhardtoimprovelifeontheships
forthepeopletravellingtothecolonies.Shealso
arrangedaloanplanfordestitutepeopletohelp
breakthecycleofdependenceandpoverty.
Today,manyofAustraliasschoolsarenamed
afterCarolineChisholm.Shewasknownasthe
migrantsfriendandisrememberedforher
tirelesseffortstohelppeoplestartanewlife.
An enlightened governor
AlongwithGovernorPhillip,GovernorLachlan
Macquarieholdsanimportantplaceinourearly
history.HegovernedthecolonyofNewSouthWales
between1810and1821.Hedevelopedthecolony
asafreesettlement,notaconvictcolony.Heimproved
farmingpracticesandbuiltnewroadsandpublic
facilities.HeencouragedtheexplorationofAustralia.
Macquariealsoputmoneyintoeducationand
respectedtherightsofformerconvicts.Hegavesome
formerconvictsjobsasjudgesandpublicservants.
GovernorMacquarieishonouredinhistoryfor
thepositivechangeshemadetothecolony.The
MacquarieUniversityinNewSouthWalesisnamed
afterhim.
Our convict heritage
AfterMacquariesterm,itwasthoughtthatthe
Governorspositionwastoopowerfulforoneman,
soin1823theNewSouthWalesLegislativeCouncil
wasformedtoadvisethenextGovernor.The
LegislativeCouncilthentriedtoreformthecolony
sothatconvictswereproperlypunishedanddidnot
livetoowell.However,itcouldnotshutoffallthe
opportunitiesforconvictslivinginNewSouthWales
andtheothercoloniesestablishedaroundAustraliain
theearly19thcentury.
Alltogether,morethan160000convictswere
transportedtoAustralia.GreatBritainstoppedsending
convictstoNewSouthWalesin1840,toTasmaniain
1852andtoWesternAustraliain1868.
Thechildrenoftheconvictshadalwaysbeenfree,
sothedivisionsbetweenex-convictsandthesettlers
graduallydisappeared.Fromthe1850s,thecolonists
weregoverningthemselvesandwantedtobuild
respectablesocieties.Thecolonistsbecameashamed
oftheirconvictpastanddidnottalkaboutit.About
acenturylater,thisfeelingofshamechanged.
Australianscametobeproudoftheirconvict
beginningsandmanypeoplearenowpleasedto
ndaconvictancestor.
Inthisspiritofacceptance,Australianshavebecomea
peoplewhodontcaremuchaboutapersonsfamily
backgroundorpastbehaviour.Wetakepeopleaswe
meetthemandgivepeopleafairgo.
Indigenous people after European

settlement
Itisestimatedthattherewerebetween750000and
1.4millionAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople
inAustraliaatthestartofEuropeansettlement.Their
numbersincludedabout250individualnationsand
over700languagegroups.
WhentheyrstsettledinAustralia,theBritish
GovernmentdidnotmakeatreatywiththeAboriginal
people.TheIndigenouspeoplehadtheirown
economiesandanancientconnectiontotheland.The
Governmentcouldnotrecognisethisbecausethere
werenosuchsystemsorbeliefsinEurope.Aboriginal
peopledidnotgrowcropsorsetuphomestostay
inoneplaceastheBritishdid,sotheGovernment
thoughttheyhadnosenseofownership.The
Governmentfeltfreetotakeovertheland.
Fatal impact
Theearlygovernorsweretoldnottoharmthe
Aboriginalpeople,buttheBritishsettlersmoved
ontoAboriginallandandmanyAboriginalpeople
werekilled.Settlerswereusuallynotpunishedfor
committingthesecrimes.
SomeAboriginalpeopleandEuropeansettlers
wereabletolivepeacefullytogether.Somesettlers
employedAboriginalpeopleonsheepandcattle
farms.GovernorMacquarieofferedAboriginalpeople
theirownlandforfarmingandsetupaschoolfor
Aboriginalchildren.However,veryfewAboriginal
peoplewantedtolivethewaythesettlerslived.
Theydidnotwanttolosetheirculturaltraditions.
WedontknowhowmanyIndigenouspeoplewere
killedinthebattlesoverlandbutwedoknowthat
hundredsofthousandsofAboriginalpeopledied.The
biggestkillersofAboriginalpeoplewerethediseases
thattheEuropeansbroughttothecountry.Theloss
ofAboriginallifewascatastrophic.InVictoriainthe
1830s,theAboriginalpopulationwasabout10000
people.In1853,only1907Aboriginalpeoplewere
counted.
Historical milestones
Inland exploration
InNewSouthWales,theearlycolonistsfacedextreme
hardship.VerylittleofAustraliaisfertilecountry.The
Aboriginalpeoplehadlearnttomanageandliveinthis
environment,thoughtheytoosufferedintimes
ofdrought.
TherstgreatbarriertheSydneysettlersfacedin
exploringinlandwasthemountainrange
50kilometrestothewestofSydney,theBlue
Mountains.In1813,threemen,Blaxland,Wentworth
andLawson,nallycrossedthemountains.Theroad
andrailwayacrosstheBlueMountainsstillfollowthe
routetheytook.
Ontheothersideofthesemountainstheexplorers
discoveredopencountrywhichwasgoodforraising
sheepandcattle.Furtherinland,however,theycame
acrossdry,desertcountry.Theyhadtroublending
waterandcarryingenoughfoodtosurvive.The
German-bornexplorer,LudwigLeichhardt,disappeared
whiletryingtocrossthecontinentfromeasttowest
in1848.
In1860BurkeandWillssetoutfromMelbourne
tocrossAustraliafromsouthtonorth.Theyleda
largeexpeditionbuttheircrossingwasverydifcult.
BurkeandWillswerenotexperiencedbushmen.
TheyreceivedexperthelpfromtheAboriginal
Yandruwandhapeoplebutbothexplorersdiedontheir
wayback.AlthoughBurkeandWillsfailedtocomplete
theirexpedition,theirstoryisrememberedinartand
literature.Itisatragicexampleoftheharshnessof
ourland.
BurkeandWillsexpeditionacrossAustralia,1860
Settlers and pioneers

Evenwhenthesettlershadgoodland,lifewasvery
hard.Afterperiodsofoodordrought,farmers
wouldoftenneedtostartagain.By1838,woolwas
Australiasprimaryexportandifthereweredroughts
oriftheoverseaswoolpricesfell,settlerswouldlose
theirlivelihood.However,peoplepickedthemselves
upandbattledon.TheAussiebattleristhenamewe
givetoapersonwhosurvivessuchhardtimes.The
AussiebattlerrepresentstheAustralianghtingspirit
andresilience.Maleandfemalepioneersarehonoured
fortheircourageduringthesehardtimes.Women
oftenhadtokeepthebusinessorfarmgoingwhen
themenwereawayorhaddied.
ItwasduringtheseharshearlyyearsthatAustralias
spiritofmateshipbegan.Itwasstrongamongthe
menwhotravelledthroughtheoutback,shearing
anddroving.Settlersalsohelpedeachotheroutof
difculty.Thistraditionisstillverymuchapartof
Australianlife,forexample,thousandsofpeople
volunteertoghtbushreseachyear.
The gold rush
ThediscoveryofgoldinNewSouthWalesinearly
1851hasbeendescribedasthediscoverythat
changedanation.Shortlyafter,goldwasalsofound
inVictoria,anewlyindependentcolony.
Bytheendof1852,90000peoplehadtravelledto
VictoriafromallpartsofAustraliaandalloverthe
worldtosearchforgold.
GoldwasdiscoveredinthecoloniesofNewSouthWalesand
Victoriain1851
TheEurekarebellionisrememberedasagreat
democraticmomentinAustraliashistory.Atthe
Ballaratgoldeldin1854,thegolddiggersheldalarge
protestagainsttheharshwaythegovernmentofcials
ranthegoldeld.
Governmenttroopswouldbeveryroughwiththe
diggerswhentheycollectedthelicencefeetodigfor
gold.On11November1854,10000peoplegathered
atBakeryHill,Ballarat,toadoptacharterofbasic
democraticrights.Theywantedtobeabletodigfor
goldwithoutneedingtopayforanexpensivelicence.
Theyalsowantedtobeabletovoteforpeopleto
representthemintheVictorianParliament.
AsmallgroupbuiltastockadeattheEurekadiggings
andewtheirrebelagwiththeSouthernCrosson
it.Thegovernmentofcialssentsoldierstoattackthe
stockadeonthemorningof3December1854.The
golddiggersweresoonoverpoweredandabout30
werekilled.
Eurekaag
Whentherebelleaderswereputontrialforhigh
treason,nojurywouldconvictthem.ARoyal
Commissionfoundthegovernmentwasatfaultand
manyoftheminersdemandsweremet.Theirwish
forpoliticalrepresentationwasalsogranted.Within
ayear,PeterLalor,theleaderoftherebels,becamea
memberoftheVictorianParliament.
Overtheyears,theEurekarebellionhasbecomea
symbolofprotestandourbeliefinafairgo.
ThegoldrushchangedAustraliainmanyways.During
thegoldrushyears,thetotalpopulationofAustralia
increasedfrom43000in1851to1.7millionin1870.
Therstrailwaysandtelegraphswerebuiltinthe
1850stolinkthegrowingpopulations.
Largegolddepositswerefoundinallcoloniesexcept
forSouthAustralia.Theeconomywasourishing
andgoldovertookwoolasourmostvaluableexport.
Byaround1890,itispossiblethatAustraliahadthe
higheststandardoflivingintheworld.
The squatters and the farmers

Fromtheearlydaysofthecolonies,peopleknownas
squattershadtakenovervastareasoflandtofarm.
Althoughtheydidnotusuallyhavetopayforthisland,
thesquattersconsideredittheirown.Aftertherst
goldrusheswereover,therewasagreatstruggleto
takethislandbackfromthesquatters.
Inthe1860s,theGovernmentwantedtosellthe
squatterslandtoworkingmenandtheirfamilies
tofarm.Thesquatterstriedtokeepasmuchland
aspossibleforthemselvesbyclaimingmanyleases,
especiallythoseinthebestpositions.
Thenewfarmersfacedadifcultenvironmentand
untiltherailwayswerebuilt,werefarfrommarkets.
Theopportunitytoearnhighwagesinthecities
alwaysmadelifeonthelandandworkingforlittle
reward,unattractive.
FarmersdidwellinSouthAustraliahowever,andthe
Australiantraditionofinventingmachinerytomake
farmingeasierbeganthere.Thestump-jumpplough
(1870s),forexample,allowedroughlandtobeeasily
clearedforcropfarming.
Migration in the 1800s
Intheearly1800s,English,Scottish,WelshandIrish
settlerswerethemaingroupsinthecolonies.Their
heritagewasthebasisofthenewnation.Australias
pastimes,culturalactivitiesandreligiouspracticeswere
thesameasthoseoftheUnitedKingdom.However,
therewerealsosmallgroupsofmigrantsfromEurope
andAsia.Europeanarrivalsinthe1800sincluded
Italians,Greeks,Poles,MalteseandRussiansaswell
asFrenchsettlersworkinginthewineindustry.These
weremostlyyoungmenseekingworkandfortune,or
seamenwhohaddesertedtheirships.
ChinesemigrantsbeganarrivinginAustraliaafter
1842.Theirnumbersgrewafterthediscoveryofgold
andtherewereracialtensionsonthegoldelds.This
sometimesledtoriotsagainsttheChinese,suchas
thoseinBendigoin1854.Theracialtensionsresulted
intherstrestrictionsonimmigrationinVictoriain
1855andNewSouthWalesin1861.
Afterthegoldrushesofthe1850s,mostChinese
returnedhome.Amongthosewhostayedwerethe
Chinesemarketgardenerswhosuppliedmuchneeded
freshfruitandvegetablesinareaswherewaterwas
scarce.
Fromthe1860s,peoplefromIran,EgyptandTurkey
cametooperatecameltrainsthroughoutback
Australia.AlongwiththeIndiancameleers,theywere
looselyreferredtoasAfghanslargelybecauseoftheir
similardressandcommonreligiousbeliefsinIslam.
Thesecameleerswereregardedaspioneersofthe
inland.About4000Indiansand6000PacicIslanders
alsoworkedinthesugarandbananaindustries
inQueensland.
Fromthe1880s,workersfromLebanonarrivedin
Australia.ManyLebanesewereinvolvedinthefabric
andclothingindustries.Lebanesefamiliescametoown
mostofthedraperiesincountryAustralia,atradition
thatcontinuestoday.
AfghancameleersinoutbackAustralia
Aboriginal reserves
AftertheearlybattlesbetweentheAboriginalpeople
andsettlersforlandwereover,theAboriginalpeople
livedontheedgesofsociety.Someworkedon
outbacksheepandcattlestationsforverylowwages.
Thecolonialgovernmentssetupreserveswherethe
Aboriginalpeoplecouldlive,buttheseareasdidnot
allowtheAboriginalpeopletolivetheirtraditionallife.
Theycouldnothuntandgatherastheywantedto.
Inthelate1800s,thecolonialgovernmentstookaway
Aboriginalrights.TheytoldtheAboriginalpeople
wheretolive.Theytoldthemwhotheycouldmarry
andtheytookmanyAboriginalchildrenawayfrom
theirparents.Thesechildrenweresenttowhite
familiesorgovernmentorphanages.Thesepracticesno
longerexistbuttheyremainacauseofdeepsadness
fortheAboriginalpeopleandformanyAustralians.
Suffrage
Suffragetteswasthetermusedaroundtheworld
forwomenwhocampaignedfortherighttovotein
elections.Duringthe1880sand1890s,everycolony
hadatleastonesuffragesociety.Suffragettescollected
thousandsofsignaturesonpetitionstopresenttotheir
colonialparliaments.
WomeninSouthAustraliawontherighttovote
andseekelectiontoparliamentin1895.Womenin
WesternAustraliawontherighttovotein1899.
In1902,Australiawastherstcountrytogivewomen
boththerighttovoteandtherighttobeelectedto
theAustralianParliament.Indigenouswomen(and
men)werenotgrantedtherighttovoteuntil1962.
EdithCowanbecametherstfemaleparliamentarian
whenshewaselectedtotheWesternAustralian
Parliamentin1923.Itwasnotuntil1943thata
woman,EnidLyons,waselectedtotheAustralian
Parliament.
Catherine Spence (1825 1910)
CatherineSpencewas
awriter,preacher,
feministand
suffragette.
CatherineSpence
migratedtoAustralia
fromScotland.She
wroteprizewinning
novelsaboutAustralian
lifeaswellas
schoolbooks.
Shehelpedsetupanorganisationtohelp
homelesschildrenandsupportednew
kindergartensandgovernmentsecondaryschools
forgirls.
Shewastherstwomantostandforparliament
andreceivedmanyvotes,butshedidnotwinher
seat.In1891shebecametheVice-Presidentofthe
WomensSuffrageLeagueofSouthAustralia.
CatherineSpenceisasymbolofwhatawoman
canachieve,eveninrestrictivetimes.
Federation
Thecolonieshaddevelopedseparately,butbythelate
19thcenturyacommonsenseofnationalbelonging
haddeveloped.Thisfeelingwasexpressedinthe
wordsofAdvanceAustraliaFair.Thissongwas
writtenbyPeterDoddsMcCormickandrstsungin
Sydneyin1878.Itisnowournationalanthem.
Towardstheendofthe19thcentury,twoattempts
weremadetobringthecoloniestogether.In1889,
SirHenryParkescalledforastrongnewnationto
beformed.TheAustralasianFederationConference
washeldin1890todiscusstheideaofanAustralian
federation.
Aftersomedelays,themovetowardsfederation
gatheredspeedin1893.Electorschosethemembersof
thenextconstitutionalconvention.Electorsvotedintwo
roundsofreferendumstoaccepttheConstitution.The
factthatthefederationprocesswasbasedonthewishes
ofthepeopleshowshowprogressiveAustraliawas.
FederationDayinBrisbane,1901
TheBritishGovernmentagreedthatAustraliacould
governitselfandtherstAustralianGovernmentwas
sworninbeforeahugecrowdinSydneysCentennial
Parkon1January1901.ThePrimeMinisterofthe
newnationwasEdmundBarton,whohadledthe
movementforfederationinNewSouthWales.
AustraliawasnowanationbutstillwithintheBritish
Empire.Itdidnotacquirefullpowersoverdefenceand
foreignaffairsuntil1931.Thoughnationalfeelinghad
grown,thesenseofbeingBritishwasstillstrong.
SirEdmundBarton
The birth of political parties
Bythe1880s,theworkersinAustraliahadbuiltup
strongtradeunions.Inthehardtimesofeconomic
depressionanddrought,theseunionsheldstrikes
toprotecttheirwagesandconditions.Theworkers
thenturnedtopolitics.In1891,theycreatedthe
LaborParty.
TheLaborPartysrstjobwastowinbackandimprove
workerswagesandconditions.Middle-classpeople
livedmorecomfortablythantheworkersbutthey
understoodtheworkerssituation.Ofcialboards
werecreatedtosetwagesandtopreventstrikes.In
1907,theCommonwealthCourtofConciliationand
Arbitrationdeterminedaminimumwageatalevelso
thataworkingman,hiswifeandthreechildrencould
liveinfrugalcomfort.
AstheLaborPartygrew,alltheotherpartiescombined
intoaLiberalPartyin1910.Thispartyhashadmany
names.Betweenthewars,itbecametheNationalist
PartyandthentheUnitedAustraliaParty.In1944
theLiberalPartyweknowtodaywasfounded.This
followedaconferenceheldbyRobertMenzieswhich
involvedmanyofthenon-Laborparties.SirRobert
MenzieswentontobecomeAustraliaslongestserving
PrimeMinister.
AfterWorldWarI,theCountryPartywasformedto
advancethecauseoffarmers.Nowknownasthe
Nationals,itusuallyactsincoalitionwiththe
LiberalParty.
The Immigration Restrictions Act 1901
TheWhiteAustraliapolicybecamelawwhenthe
ImmigrationRestrictionsAct1901waspassedin
December1901.Thisrestrictedimmigrantsfrom
workinginAustraliaandrestrictedthemigrationof
non-whitepeople.
Anyonewithanon-Europeanbackgroundhadtosit
adictationtestof50wordsinaEuropeanlanguage.
MembersoftheChineseChamberofCommerce,
thebarristerWilliamAhKetandleadingChinese
businessmenmadepublicprotests,butthesedidnot
succeedinchangingthelaw.
Chinese,Indians,PacicIslandersandpeoplesfrom
theMiddleEastwerelargelyreplacedbymigrantsfrom
southernEuropeinthenewlyfederatedAustralia,
buttheirculturalcontributionswerealreadypartof
Australiassocialidentity.
World War I, 19141918
Apartfromconictbetweensettlersandthe
Aboriginalpeople,Australiahashadaremarkably
peacefulhistory.Therehavebeennocivilwarsor
revolutions.GenerationsofAustraliansremainedvery
loyaltotheBritishEmpire.
However,asaEuropeanoutpostclosetoAsia,
Australiaalsofeltvulnerable,especiallyafterJapan
becameagreatpower.WereliedontheBritishEmpire
anditsnavalstrengthtodefendus.Australiafoughtin
bothworldwarstokeeptheBritishEmpirestrongand
toprotectourselves.

AustraliaenteredWorldWarIinAugust1914,and
in1915tookpartinanattackonGermanysally,
Turkey.ThemenoftheAustralianandNewZealand
ArmyCorps(Anzacs)weregiventheirownpartofthe
GallipoliPeninsulatoattack.
Theyhadtoclimbsteepcliffswhilebeingshotatby
Turkishtroops.Somehow,theygotupthecliffsand
dugin,althoughmanyyoungmendied.Australians
athometooktremendousprideinthespiritofthe
Anzacs.
TheanniversaryofthelandingonGallipoli(25April)is
nowanationalholiday.ItiscalledAnzacDay.
AfterGallipoli,theAustralianforcesfoughtonthe
WesternFrontinFranceandBelgium.Itwasherethat
theygotthenamediggersbecausetheyspentso
muchtimediggingandxingtrenches.Ledbytheir
commander,LieutenantGeneralSirJohnMonash,
theAustraliandiggerswongreatvictoriesinthelast
battlesagainstGermany.
Australianservicemenandwomenalsoservedinthe
MiddleEast,participatinginthedefenceoftheSuez
CanalandtheAlliedconquestoftheSinaipeninsula
andPalestine.
Simpson and his donkey
John Simpson Kirkpatrick
(18921915)
JohnSimpson
Kirkpatrickwasa
servicemanandisan
Australianlegend.
AsPrivateJohn
Simpson,heserved
atGallipoliinthe
ambulancemedical
corpsasastretcher
bearer.Itwasdifcult
tocarrystretchers
throughthehillsandthevalleys.Againstarmy
orders,heusedadonkey,namedDuffy,tohelp
transportthewoundedsoldiersbacktosafety.
Dayandnight,hourafterhour,theywouldrisk
theirlivestravellingbetweentheghtingandthe
beachcamp.
PrivateJohnSimpsonhadarrivedatGallipolion
25April1915.Hewaskilledjustfourweekslater
byenemymachineguns.Servicemenatthebeach
campwatchedinsilentsadnessasDuffy,still
carryinganinjuredsoldier,trottedtowardsthe
beachwithouthisyoungmasterbyhisside.
GallipoliPeninsuladuringWorldWarI
The Anzac legend
TheAnzactraditionwasforgedon25April1915whentheAustralianandNewZealandArmyCorps
(ANZAC)landedontheGallipoliPeninsulainTurkey.
Itmarkedthestartofacampaignwhichlastedeightmonthsandresultedinsome25000Australian
casualties,including8700whowerekilledordiedofwoundsordisease.Thebraveryandspiritofthose
whoservedontheGallipoliPeninsulashapedalegend,andAnzacbecamepartoftheAustralianand
NewZealandlanguage.
In1916,therstanniversaryofthelandingwasobservedinAustralia,NewZealandandEngland,aswell
asbytroopsinEgypt.Inthatyear,25AprilwasnamedAnzacDay.
Bythe1920s,AnzacDayceremonieswereheldthroughoutAustraliaandthestateshaddesignated
AnzacDayasapublicholiday.Majorwarmemorialswerebuiltinthecapitalcities,andmonumentsin
citiesandtownsacrossthenationremembertheyoungmenandwomenkilledinthatandlaterconicts.
AnzacDayisnowadaytohonourallthosewhohaveservedinwars,conictsandpeacekeeping
operations.Itisnotreallyamilitarycelebration.Itdoesnothonourvictories-theGallipolicampaignwas
afailure.Ithonoursthequalitiesofordinaryservicemenandwomen:mateship,enduranceandhumour
inthefaceofadversity.Today,AnzacDayiscommemoratedinAustraliaandaroundtheworld.Returned
AustralianservicemenandwomenfromWorldWarIIandotherconicts,aswellaspeacekeepersand
veteransfromAlliedcountries,allmarchproudlyinAnzacDayparades.
AnzacDayDawnServiceatGallipoli
The Great Depression, 1929 1932

TheGreatDepressionwasatimeofextremehardshipforthepeopleofAustralia.Itstartedatthesametime
asthecollapseoftheNewYorkStockExchange,buttherewereotherfactorsthatalsoledtotheDepression.
Theseincludedafallinexportpricesandsales,afallinoverseasloansandgovernmentspendingandafallin
construction.Bythemiddleof1932,almost32percentofAustralianswereoutofwork.
TheDepressionsimpactonAustraliansocietywas
devastating.Withoutworkandasteadyincome,many
peoplelosttheirhomes.Theywereforcedtolivein
makeshiftshelterswithnoheatingorsanitation.Some
fathersdesertedtheirfamiliesorturnedtoalcohol.
Working-classchildrenstartedleavingschoolat13or
14yearsofage.Manywomenworkedinbasicjobsas
wellaslookingaftertheirchildrenandhomeson
theirown.
AtthetimeleadinguptotheDepression,the
AustralianGovernmentdidnothaveacentral
unemploymentprogram.Apartfromcharitiesand
someprivateorganisations,poorpeoplehadtorelyon
employmentprojectsandpublicworksprojects.
Theeconomystartedtoimprovein1932but,in
manycases,thedamagetofamiliescouldnotbe
repaired.DuringtheGreatDepression,thevitalroleof
Australiancharitiesandvolunteerswasemphasised.
AsoupkitchenduringtheGreatDepression
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (1897 1935)
SirCharlesKingsfordSmithwasadaringpilot,aviationpioneerandan
Australianhero.
InWorldWarI,CharlesKingsfordSmithfoughtatGallipoliandewwith
BritainsRoyalFlyingCorps.
HisgreatestachievementwasmakingtherstcrossingofthePacicOcean
fromCaliforniatoQueenslandin1928.Whenhisplane,theSouthernCross,
nallyarrivedinAustralia,25000adoringpeopleweretheretocheerfor
theirheroSmithy.Hewasknightedforhisservicestoaviationin1932.
Tragically,in1935,hewentdownwithhisplaneonaightfromEnglandto
Australiaandwasneverfound.
SirCharlesKingsfordSmithhasbeencalledtheworldsgreatestaviatorandheisrememberedforgiving
thepeople,inthemidstoftheDepression,atrueAustralianherotolookupto.
World War II, 1939 - 1945
InWorldWarII,AustraliansfoughtfortheAlliesin
thedesertsofNorthAfricaandmanyotherplaces.
InNorthAfrica,theyfoughtinalongsiegebythe
GermansandItaliansinthetownofTobruk.The
enemycalledthemtheRatsofTobrukbecausethey
werecorneredandhadtoeatwhateverfoodthey
couldnd.TheAustraliansfoughtandsurvivedthese
toughconditionsandsotheyadoptedthisnamefor
themselves.Thesiegeshowedthatthesemenhadthe
ghtingspiritoftheWorldWarIdiggers.Thesoldiers
themselvesknewthattheyhadagreattraditiontolive
upto.
AfterJapanlauncheditswarinthePacic,the
Australianservicemenandwomencamehome.Before
theycouldreturnthough,PapuaandNewGuinea
neededtobedefended.Thisenormoustaskwas
handedtoregularsoldiersandtoyoungconscript
soldierswhowerepoorlytrained.Theyfoughtthe
enemyinthejungle,alongasteep,muddytrailknown
astheKokodaTrack.TheAustraliantroopsstopped
theJapaneseadvanceandtheKokodaTrackhasjoined
AnzacCoveatGallipoliasaplaceofpilgrimagefor
manyAustralians.
AwoundedsoldierontheKokodaTrackhelpedbyaPapuancarrier
WhentheJapanesetookthegreatBritishbaseat
Singaporein1942,15000Australiantroopswere
amongthosewhowerecapturedandtakento
workontheThai-BurmaRailway.Itwasduringthe
constructionoftheThai-BurmaRailwayunderthe
JapaneseduringWorldWarIIthatthousandsof
AustralianandBritishprisonersofwardied.
OneofthesharpestAustralianmemoriesofthewar
isthecrueltreatmentofthesemenbytheJapanese.
AlthoughAustralianprisonersofwardidtheirbestto
lookaftereachother,withofcersandmentreating
eachotherasequals,manyAustraliansdied.
Remembrance Day
AswellasAnzacDayceremonies,RemembranceDayis
alsoadayonwhichAustraliansrememberthosewho
haveservedanddiedinwar.At11amon
11November(the11thmonth)eachyear,Australians
pausetorememberthesacriceofthemenand
womenwhodiedorsufferedinwarsandconicts,
aswellasallthosewhohaveserved.Wewearared
poppyonthisday.
Redpoppieshavebeenusedasasymbolofremembrancesince
WorldWarI
TheAustralianDefenceForcehasrecentlybeen
engagedinconictsinEastTimor,Iraq,Sudanand
AfghanistanandhastakenpartinUNpeacekeeping
operationsinmanypartsoftheworld,including
Africa,theMiddleEastandtheAsia-Pacicregion.

Sir Edward Weary Dunlop

(1907 1993)
SirEdwardWeary
Dunlopwasabrave
andcaringsurgeonand
anAustralianwarhero.
DuringWorldWar
II,Wearywasan
Armysurgeon.He
andhisfellowmen
werecapturedbythe
Japaneseandtakento
Burmatoworkonthe
Thai-BurmaRailway.Thiswasverylongandhard
work.
Astheircommander,Wearyspokeupforhismen
andastheirsurgeon,hespentlonghourshealing
them.Hewastorturedinthecampbutdeantly
continuedtoserve.
Hewasknightedin1969forhiscontributionto
medicine.Whenhedied,10000peoplelinedthe
streetsofMelbourneforthestatefuneralofthe
herotheycalledTheSurgeonoftheRailway.
Migration in the early 1900s
IntheperiodbetweentheFirstandSecondWorld
Wars,restrictiveconditionsforentryintoAustralia
remained.However,therewasagrowthinthe
migrationofpeople,especiallymen,fromsouthern
Europe.Theybroughtwiththemskills,education
andtheirownculturalvalues.Theyhelpeddevelop
Australiasruralindustriesandbuiltroadsandrailways.
SkilledItalianstonemasonsmadeasignicant
contributiontotheconstructionofourpublicbuildings
andresidences.
Attheendofthe1930s,Jewishrefugeesbegan
toarrivefromEurope.Theywereescapingthe
threatofNaziGermany.TheycamefromGermany,
Austria,Czechoslovakia,HungaryandPoland.Many
werehighlyeducatedandtalentedrefugeeswho
contributedgreatlytoAustralianculturallife.
SeventeenthousandItaliansoldierscapturedinthe
SecondWorldWarwereheldinprisonerofwar
campsinAustralia.Theyweretreatedfairly.
Theyonlystayedashorttimeinthecampsbutthey
learntsomethingaboutthelandandthepeople.After
thewar,manyreturnedtoAustraliaasimmigrants.
AEuropeanmigrantarrivinginAustralia
Post-war refugees
Afterthewar,Australiabroughtinmigrantsfromother
Europeancountriestobuildupthepopulation.Millions
ofpeoplehadedNaziGermanyorwereunableto
returntotheirhomelandsnowoccupiedbySoviet
Russia.Approximately170000ofthesedisplaced
personswereacceptedintoAustraliatobegina
newlife.
Therewasalsoanacuteshortageoflabourin
Australia.TheAustralianGovernmentbelievedthat
populationgrowthwasessentialforthecountrys
future.Healthyadultmigrantsundertheageof
45yearscouldtraveltoAustraliafor10andtheir
childrencouldtravelforfree.Nationalitieswere,
however,stillrestrictedtothosefromtheUnited
KingdomandEurope.
TorevitaliseAustralia,theAustralianGovernment
startedworkonaboldschemein1949tocatchthe
watersoftheSnowyRiverbeforetheyowedtothe
seaineasternVictoria.Thesewatersweredivertedto
owinlandforirrigationandtobeusedtogenerate
electricpower.Itwasamassiveprojectthattook
25yearstocomplete.Seventypercentoftheworkers
onthisprojectweremigrants.
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme

TheSnowyMountainsSchemeisanimportantsymbolofAustraliasidentityasanindependent,
multiculturalandresourcefulcountry.
ItisthelargestengineeringprojectinAustralia.Itisalsooneofthelargesthydro-electricschemesin
theworld.
TheschemesupplieswaterthatisvitaltothefarmingindustriesofinlandNewSouthWalesandVictoria.
Itspowerstationsalsoproduceupto10percentofallelectricityforNewSouthWales.
Only2percentoftheSnowyMountainsSchemeisvisibleabovetheground.Itconsistsof16majordams,
sevenpowerstations,apumpingstationand225kilometresoftunnels,pipelinesandaqueducts.
Workontheschemebeganin1949andwasnishedin1974.Morethan100000peoplefromover
30countriesworkedontheproject.Seventypercentoftheseworkersweremigrants.Afterthe
projectwascompleted,mostoftheEuropeanworkersstayedontoliveinAustralia,makingavaluable
contributiontoAustraliasmulticulturalsociety.
TheSnowyMountainsSchemeissituatedinKosciuszkoNationalPark,NewSouthWales.Theeffectsof
theprojectontheenvironmenthavebeencloselywatched.Theschemehasmeantthat,insomeplaces,
theSnowyRivernowonlycarries1percentofthewaterthatitcarriedbefore.
Forthegoodoftheenvironment,theVictorianandNewSouthWalesgovernmentshaveagreedto
restoretheriversowto28percent.
WorkersontheSnowyMountainsScheme
Treatment of Indigenous people

Inthe1940sand1950stheAustralianGovernment
policyonAboriginalpeoplechangedtooneof
assimilation.ThismeantthattheIndigenouspeople
weretoldtoliveasthenon-Indigenouspopulation
lived.ThisdidnotworkbecauseAboriginalpeopledid
notwanttolosetheirtraditionalculture.
Inthe1960sthepolicychangedtointegration.
MostmeninAustraliagainedtherighttovoteinthe
1850s,butCommonwealthvotingrightswerenot
extendedtoallIndigenousAustraliansuntil1962.
Withintegration,Aboriginalpeopleweregivencivil
libertiesbuttheywerestillexpectedtoadapttonon-
IndigenousAustralianculture.
Furtherchangecamein1967,whenmorethan
90percentofAustraliansvotedYEStoallow
Aboriginalpeopletobecountedinthecensus.This
referendumwasahistoricmilestone.Itshowedthat
thevastmajorityofAustralianswantedIndigenous
peopletobeincludedandgiventhesamerightsas
everyoneelse.
ThisopeningupofAustralianattitudes,andstrong
Aboriginalprotestatthetime,ledthewayfora
policyofIndigenousself-determinationinthe1970s.
TheAustralianGovernmentcametorecogniseand
agreethatIndigenousAustraliansshouldhaveasay
intheirownpolitical,economic,socialandcultural
development.
Migration - a gradual change
Inthe1950sand1960s,theAsiancommunity,
churchesandsocialgroupsallprotestedtoendthe
WhiteAustraliapolicy.
In1958,theAustralianGovernmentdroppedthe
dictationtestandin1966Australiaopenedthedoor
forselectivenon-EuropeanandskilledAsianmigration.
EventuallyAustralianseverywhererecognisedthevalue
ofincludingallnationsinourmigrationprogram.
TheWhiteAustraliapolicyendedin1973,andthe
countrywasonthepathtomulticulturalism.
In1973,theAustralianGovernmentremovedall
racialqualicationstoimmigration.In1975,afterthe
VietnamWar,Australiaacceptedrecordnumbersof
Asianrefugeesandmigrants.
ThesepeopleweremostlyfromVietnambutChinese
andIndianmigrantsalsostartedarrivinginlarge
numbers.
Since1975,Australiahasacceptedrefugeesfrom
manywar-torncountriesincludingBosniaand
Herzegovina,andfromcountriesintheMiddleEast
andAfrica.Today,ourmigrantscomefromalloverthe
world.
Australiahasbecomeanationofallthelands;oneof
thegreatsuccessesofthemodernworld.Since1945,
6.5millionpeoplehavecometoAustralia.Overone
quarterofAustralianswerebornoverseas.
MigrantshavechosentocometoAustraliaandto
shareourcommonsetofvalues.Theyaddtotherich
tapestryofAustralianlife.
Inclusion
Australiaisnowamulticulturalsocietywhereevery
individualsrighttopractisehisorherbeliefsand
followculturaltraditionswithintheframeworkofthe
law,isrespectedandprotected.
Australiatodayhasanactivepolicyofinclusion,where
everypersonofeveryracefeelsapartofoursociety.
ThispolicyrunsthroughallaspectsoftheAustralian
culture.Itispartofoureducationalcurriculumfrom
earlychildhoodthroughtouniversityandispractised
inourworkplacesandtheserviceindustry.
Therightofeveryindividualtobetreatedequallyand
withoutdiscriminationisdefendedbytheAustralian
HumanRightsCommissionandgovernmentanti-
discriminationagenciesineverystateandterritory.
Racialdiscriminationispubliclycondemnedanda
crimeunderthelaw.
Australiahasbecomeamulticulturalsocietyof
harmonyandacceptance.Itisacountrywhere
migrants,Indigenouspeopleandothersbornin
Australiacanfeelfreetopursuetheirgoalsinpeace.
Itisaplacewherepastconictsandresentmentscan
beleftfarbehind.
Dr Victor Chang (1936 1991)
DrVictorChangwasoneofAustraliasbestheartsurgeons.
VictorPeterChangYamHimwasborninChinain1936andcametoAustralia
whenhewas15yearsold.
HeworkedatSt.VincentsHospitalinSydneywherein1984hesetuptherst
centreinAustraliaspecialisinginhearttransplants.In1986VictorChangwas
madeaCompanionoftheOrderofAustralia,thehighestAustralianaward.
Victorbecameconcernedaboutashortageofdonorssohestarteddesigning
anarticialheart,whichwasalmostnishedwhenhewastragicallykilledin
1991.
Anewresearchcentrehasbeensetupinhismemory.Heisrememberedforhis
expertise,hisoptimismandhisinnovation.
Albert Namatjira (1902 1959)
AlbertNamatjiraisone
ofAustraliasgreat
artistswhofoundeda
schoolofpaintingthat
continuestoday.
AsayoungArrernte
man,Albertshowed
anaturalgiftfor
painting.
Hehadverylimited
formaltrainingbuthis
watercolourpaintingsoftheAustraliancountry
wereverypopularandallsoldveryquickly.
HeandhiswifeweretherstAboriginalpeople
inAustraliaallowedtobecomecitizens.This
meanttheycouldvote,enterahotelandbuild
ahousewherevertheyliked.AlbertsAustralian
citizenshiphighlightedthefactthatother
Aboriginalpeopledidnothavetheserights.
Hislifeshowednon-IndigenousAustraliansthe
injusticeofracistlawsandcontributedtochanges
forAboriginalpeople.
Eddie Mabo (1936 1992)
EddieMabowas
anactivistand
spokespersonon
Indigenouslandrights.
EddieKoikiMabowas
bornonMurrayIsland,
onthetraditionalland
oftheMaboclan.From
anearlyage,hewas
taughtexactlywhich
treesandwhichrocks
markedtheboundariesofhisfamilysland.
ItwasnotuntilmanyyearslaterthatEddielearnt
thathishomelandwasconsideredCrownland
underAustralianlawanddidnotbelongtohis
family.Heturnedhisangerintoactionandtook
histestcasetocourtonbehalfofthepeopleof
MurrayIsland.
In1992,aftermanyyears,Eddiescasewaswon
intheHighCourt.TheMabodecisionruledthat
ifIndigenouspeoplecouldprovethattheyhad
ahistoricandongoingtraditionalconnectionto
theirland,theycouldclaimownershipofthat
landifitwasotherwiseunclaimed.Thisdecision
hasseenthereturnoflargeareasoflandtotheir
originalowners.
EddieMaboisrememberedforhiscourageand
forgaininglandrightsforIndigenousAustralians.

Indigenous people two decades

of change
Aboriginalprotestoverlandrightshadbeenbrought
topublicattentioninthe1960swiththeGurindji
StrikeatWaveHillcattlestationintheNorthern
Territory.Aboriginalstockmen,ledbyVincentLingiari,
walkedoffthejobatthecattlestation.Theirprotest
wasaboutpayandworkingconditions,butitturned
intoademandforlandrights.Theiractionsledthe
wayforEddieMaboandotherstoghtforIndigenous
landrights.
UndertheAboriginalLandRights(NorthernTerritory)
Act1976Aboriginalpeopleweregrantedvastareas
ofoutbackAustralia.Intheearly1990s,theHigh
CourtsMabodecisionandtheNativeTitleAct1993
recognisedthatIndigenouspeoplehadaclaimto
landbasedontheirowntraditionallawsandcustoms.
Over10percentoftheAustralianlandmassisnow
coveredbynativetitledeterminations.Here,aspects
oftraditionalsocietystillsurvive.Indigenousculture
continuestoourishandiswidelyadmiredbythe
broadercommunity.
InMay1997,theBringingthemhomereportwas
tabledintheAustralianParliament.Thereportwasthe
resultofaninquiryintotheremovaloflargenumbers
ofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildrenfrom
theirfamilies.Thesechildrencametobeknownas
theStolenGenerations.Asaresultofthereport,
thousandsofAustraliansshowedsupportfortheir
IndigenousfellowAustraliansbymarchingtogether
ontherstnationalSorryDayin1998.
The Apology to the Stolen Generations,
2008
On13February2008,theAustralianPrimeMinister
madeanationalapologytotheStolenGenerations
intheAustralianParliament.Hespokeonbehalfof
allAustralians.HesaidsorryforthewayIndigenous
Australianshadbeentreatedinthepast.Hesaidsorry
especiallyforthewaythatIndigenouschildrenhad
beentakenfromtheirparents.
Thespeechwasairedontelevisionandradiostations.
ThousandsofAustraliansgatheredtogetherinpublic
placesandintheirworkplacestolistentotheSorry
speech.Thespeechofciallylistedpastinjustices
andapologisedforthem.Thiswasanimportant
steptowardsthehealingoftheIndigenouspeople
andtomakingsurethattheseinjusticeswouldnever
happenagain.TheSorryspeechwasanimportantstep
forwardforallAustralians.
Today,theinvaluablecontributionofIndigenous
peopletotheAustralianidentityisrecognisedand
celebrated.AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople
holdleadingpositionsacrosstheAustralianworkforce,
includingthejusticesystem,politics,theartsand
sports.TheMARVINprogram,anAboriginalinnovation
indigitalanimation,haswonmultipleawardsandis
beingusedineducationalandbusinessinstitutionsin
overtwentycountriesaroundtheworld.
SkywriterwritesSorryoverSydney
In conclusion
Thesepageshavegivenyoujustaglimpseinto
ourAustralianstory.Youmightndthatthisnew
knowledgehasopenedupyourawarenessofyour
environment.Youmightstartlookingatthedates
onoldbuildingsandplacingtheminahistorical
context.Whenyouareofferedapoppytowearon
11November,youwillknowthatitistoremember
ourfallenservicemenandwomen.Whenyoumeet
IndigenousAustralians,youwillhaveasenseofthe
ancientculturesthatguidethem.Weurgeyouto
expandyourknowledgebyusinglocalresourcesand
throughtravel.Themoreyouknow,themoreyouwill
notice.
WewelcomeyoutoAustraliancitizenshipandinvite
yourfullparticipationinourpeacefuldemocratic
country.

Glossary of non-testable section

ambassador
apersonwhorepresentsorpromotesacountryoranactivity
board
agroupofpeoplechosentomakedecisions,forexampleabouthowacompanyshouldberun
boardingschool
aschoolwherestudentsliveattheschoolanddonotreturnhomeforthewholeschoolterm
bush
theAustraliancountrysidestillinitsnaturalstate
cattlestation
alargefarmwherecattlearekeptforbeefproduction
charter
aformalwrittenstatementofrightsandresponsibilities
clan
agroupofpeople,relatedbybloodormarriage,whosharethesameterritory
commonground
asharedareaofinterest
conscriptsoldier
asoldierwhodidnotchoosetojointhedefenceforcebutwhohadtojoininatimeofwar
Crownland
landbelongingtothegovernment
curriculum
acourseofstudy
destitute
nothavingmoneyorawayofgettingmoney
didgeridoo
amusicalinstrumentoftheAboriginalAustralianpeoplemadefromalonghollowlog
fairgo
areasonableorequalchanceforeveryonetodowell
fairplay
participatingwellinagroupeffort,followingtherulesforeveryonesbenet,goodteamwork
fallenservicemenandwomen
servicemenandwomenkilledinwarorbattle
forge
tobuildorcreate
grossdomesticproduct(GDP)
thevalueofallgoodsandservicesmadewithinacountryinayear
heatwave
veryhotweatherthatlastsformorethantwodaysinarow
hightreason
aseriouscriminaloffencewhichinvolvesanattempttooverthrowthegovernment
72 AustralianCitizenship:OurCommonBond
iconicIndigenouspaintings
artthatisuniquetoandrepresentativeoftheIndigenouspeople
landmass
anareaofland
milestone
animportanteventinhistory
nativetitle
thetraditionalrightsthatIndigenouspeoplehavetolandandwaters,decidedwithintheAustralian
legalsystem
oralhistory
peoplesspokenmemoriesofwhathappenedinthepast
pioneer
oneoftherstsettlers,anachieverintheearlydaysofcolonialsettlement
politicalrepresentation
beingrepresentedbyapoliticianintheparliament
reserve
anareaoflandsetasidebythegovernmentforAboriginalpeopletoliveon
sentence
thelengthoftimeacriminalservesaspunishment
setwages
todecideonhowmuchemployeesmustbepaidfortheirwork
socialreform
makingimprovementstosocietygradually,ratherthanbyrevolution
statefuneral
afuneralpaidforbythegovernmenttohonouracitizenwhohasmadeanimportantcontributionto
thenation
stockade
adefensiveenclosuremadewithwoodenpostsandstakes
stockmen
menemployedtolookaftercattle
strike
whenemployeesstopworking,forexample,toprotestagainstanemployersdecision
suffrage
therighttovoteinpublicelections
swornin
tobeacceptedintopublicofceinaformalceremony
tabled
tobeofciallypresentedfordiscussionorapprovalinparliamente.g.areportistabled
walkoflife
socialclassorbackground,job,position
Glossaryofnon-testablesection 73
For more information

Australian citizenship
ToobtainmoreinformationabouthowtobecomeanAustraliancitizen,visittheAustraliancitizenshipwebsiteat
Australia
YoucanobtainmoreinformationaboutAustraliaatyourlocallibrary.Thefollowingwebsitesmayalsoprovide
furtherinformation:
AustraliainBrief www.dfat.gov.au/aib
CultureandRecreationPortal www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au
Australian Government programs and services
YoucanobtaininformationaboutAustralianGovernmentprogramsandservicesfromwww.australia.gov.au.
Federal MP or Senator
YourlocalfederalMPoraSenatorforyourstateorterritoryhasarangeofinformationaboutAustralian
Governmentprogramsandservices.
AlistingofMPsandsenatorscanbefoundatwww.aph.gov.au.
Australian Government organisations
YoucanobtainmoreinformationaboutAustralianGovernmentorganisationsreferredtointheresourcebookfrom
thefollowingwebsites:
AustralianDefenceForce
AustralianElectoralCommission
AustralianFederalPolice
AustralianHumanRightsCommission
AustralianSportsCommission
AustralianTaxationOfce
AustralianWarMemorial
ReserveBankofAustralia
www.defence.gov.au
www.aec.gov.au
www.afp.gov.au
www.humanrights.gov.au
www.ausport.gov.au
www.ato.gov.au
www.awm.gov.au
www.rba.gov.au
For more information 75
Non-government organisations
Youcanobtainmoreinformationaboutnon-governmentorganisationsreferredtointheresourcebookfrom
thefollowingwebsites:
BradmanFoundationAustralia
HamlinFistulaInternational
RoyalFlyingDoctorServiceofAustralia
SchooloftheAir
SnowyMountainsHydro-ElectricAuthority
TheFredHollowsFoundation
UNESCOWorldHeritageCentre
UnitedNations
VictorChangCardiacResearchInstitute
VolunteeringAustralia
Other
www.bradman.com.au
www.stulatrust.org
www.yingdoctor.net
www.schoolair-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
www.snowyhydro.com.au
www.hollows.org.au
whc.unesco.org
www.un.org
www.victorchang.edu.au
www.volunteeringaustralia.org
Searchthefollowingwebsitesformoreinformationonthefollowingtopics:
AustralianoftheYearAwards
Bringingthemhomereport
Commonwealthparksandreserves
FamousAustralians:TheAustralianDictionary
ofBiographyOnlineEdition
ListofBillscurrentlybeforeParliament
ParliamentofAustralia
Parliamentaryeducationservices
PublicHolidays
TheApologytotheStolenGenerations
www.aph.gov.au/senate/general/constitution
www.australianoftheyear.org.au
www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/bth_report/
index.html
www.environment.gov.au/parks/index.html
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/adbonline.htm
www.aph.gov.au/bills/index.htm
www.aph.gov.au
www.peo.gov.au
www.australia.gov.au/topics/australian-facts-and
gures/public-holidays
www.abc.net.au/news/events/apology/text.htm
Acknowledgments
The following images were provided courtesy of the National Archives of Australia:
p42-ChildrenonsheeppropertyNSWSchooloftheAir,photographtakenin1962(ref:A1200:L42511)
p51-PersonalitiesDickSmith,ChairmanofCivilAviationAuthority,1991(ref:A6135:K23/5/91/1)
p56-TasmansmapofAustralia,1644(ref:A1200:L13381)
p59-HistoricalphotographsofthegoldrushinAustraliain1851(ref:A1200:L84868)
p60-AfghansandtheircamelsworkingininlandAustralia(ref:A6180:25/5/78/62)
p67-Personalities-SirEdwardWearyDunlopinhisofce,1986(ref:A6180:1/9/86/12)
p67-ImmigrationMigrantArrivalsinAustralia-ItaliancanecuttersaboardtheFlaminiainCairns,1955
(ref:A12111:1/1955/4/97)
The following images were provided courtesy of the National Library of Australia:
p18- DemonstratorsassembledtohearspeakersattheAntiWarProtestRallyheldatGaremaPlace,
Civic,Canberra,15February,2003,photographbyGregPower(ref:nla.pic-vn3063592)
p44-PortraitofJudithWright,published1940s(ref:nla.pic-an29529596)
p52-IndonesianwomengreetingAustralianDefenceForcepersonnelduringthereliefoperationinAceh,
Indonesiaafterthetsunami,30December2004,photographbyDanHunt(ref:nla.pic-vn3510861)
p56-TheFirstFleetinSydneyCove,January27,1788,createdbyJohnAllcot18881973
(ref:nla.pic-an7891482)
p57- PortraitofCarolineChisholm,publishedbyThomasFairland18041852(ref:nla.pic-an9193363)
p58- ReturnofBurkeandWillstoCoopersCreek,createdbyNicholasChevalier18281902andpublishedin
1868(ref:nla.pic-an2265463)
p61-PortraitofCatherineHelenSpence,published1890s(ref:nla.pic-an14617296)
p63-JohnSimpsonKirkpatrickandhisdonkey,Gallipoli,1915(ref:nla.pic-an24601465)
p65- PortraitofSirCharlesEdwardKingsfordSmith,publishedbetween1919and1927(ref:nla.pic-vn3302805)
p70- PortraitofAlbertNamatjiraatHermannsburgMission,NorthernTerritory,published1946or1947
byArthurGroom(ref:nla.pic-an23165034)
Fourteen World Heritage site images were provided courtesy of the
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the following people:
p40-AustralianFossilMammalSitesphotographbyColinTotterdell
p40- BlueMountainsNationalParkphotographbyMarkMohell
p40-FraserIslandphotographbyShannonMuir
p40-GondwanaRainforestsofAustraliaphotographbyPaulCandlin
p40-KakaduNationalParkphotographbySallyGreenaway
p40-LordHoweIslandphotographbyMelindaBrouwer
Acknowledgements 77
p40-MacquarieIslandphotographbyMelindaBrouwer
p41-PurnululuNationalParkphotographbyRodHartvigsen
p41-RoyalExhibitionBuildingandCarltonGardensphotographbyMichelleMcAulay
p41-SharkBayphotographbyKellyMullen
p41-TasmanianWildernessphotographbyNicolaBryden
p41-Uluru-KataTjutaNationalParkphotographbyAndrewHutchinson
p41-WetTropicsofQueenslandphotographbyColinTotterdell
p41-WillandraLakesRegionphotographbyMarkMohell
The following images were provided courtesy of iStockphoto:
Frontcover-Wattle,iStockphoto.com/Ressy(ref:3322510)
p14- Australianblackopal,iStockphoto.com/Alicat(ref:8323912)
p22-ParliamentHouse,iStockphoto.com/TimStarkey(ref:2256743)
p22-Gavelandbook,iStockphoto.com/Dem10(ref:2397687)
p27-Coinsonnancegraph,iStockphoto.com/RobynMackenzie(ref:2335549)
p27-Doctorwriting,iStockphoto.com/CarlosArranz(ref:6498434)
p38-BondiBeach,iStockphoto.com/EddWestmacott(ref:3048786)
p38-KingsCanyon,iStockphoto.com/FrancoisMarclay(ref:5733853)
p51-Reclaimeronironoreminesite,iStockphoto.com/ChristianUhrig(ref:9819736)
p54-Didgeridoos,iStockphoto.com/AdamBooth(ref:834207)
p55- AboriginalrockartSaratogash,iStockphoto.com/AlpenGluehen(ref:2761924)
All other images were provided courtesy of the following organisations/people:
p8- SpottedgumswithaoorcoveringofBurrawangpalms,MurramarangNationalPark,NSW,
photographbyDarioPostai
p20- PersonplacingtheirvoteintotheballotboximagecourtesyoftheVictorianElectoralCommission
p24-CommonwealthofAustraliaConstitutionAct1900:OriginalPublicRecordCopy,imagecourtesyofGifts
Collection,ParliamentHouseArtCollection,DepartmentofParliamentaryServices,CanberraACT
p27- ChildrensittinginarowimagecourtesyofGettyImages,photographbyMelYates
p28-HighCourtimagecourtesyoftheHighCourtofAustralia
p40- BigBenHeardIslandimagecourtesyofAustralianAntarcticDivisionCommonwealthofAustralia,
photographbyL.E.Large(ref:1892A2)
p40-GreatBarrierReefimagecourtesyofGreatBarrierReefMarineParkAuthority
p41-SydneyOperaHouseimagecourtesyofCityofSydney,photographbyPatrickBingham-Hall
Acknowledgments
p43-TeammemberfromtheAustralianwomensnationalfootballteam(Matildas)imagecourtesyofthe
AustralianSportsCommission
p44-SirDonaldBradmanimagecourtesyoftheBradmanMuseumofCricket.SirDonaldBradmanwearinghis
AustralianTestcapandtakenduringthe1931-32Australianseason
p45-ProfessorFredHollowsimagecourtesyoftheFredHollowsFoundation,photographbyFrankVioli
p50-NewYearsEvereworksoverSydneyHarbourimagecourtesyofCityofSydney
p52-DrCatherineHamlinACimagecourtesyoftheHamlinFistulaReliefandAidFund
p61-LordLamingtonaddressesFederationDaycrowds,Brisbane,1901,imagecourtesyoftheStateLibraryof
Queensland,photographbyH.W.Mobsby(ref:47417)
p65- SoupkitchenimagecourtesyofStateLibraryofNewSouthWales(MitchellLibrary).Schoolchildrenlineup
forfreeissueofsoupandasliceofbread,BelmoreNorthPublicSchool,NSW,2August1934,photographby
SamHood(ref:H&A4368)
p66-KokodaTrackimagecourtesyoftheAustralianWarMemorial(ref:014028)
p66-RedpoppiesattheAustralianWarMemorial,photographbyTorieBrims
p70-DrVictorChangimagecourtesyoftheVictorChangCardiacResearchInstitute
p70-EddieMaboimagereproducedwiththepermissionofBernitaandGailMabo
Notes
Notes
Notes

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Our Common Bond 2014 PDF

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Australian Citizenship

Our Common Bond

Becoming an Australian citizen

Australia and its people

Australias states and territories

Traditions and symbols

Australias national anthem

Australias democratic beliefs, rights and liberties

Responsibilities and privileges

Serve on a jury if called to do so

Government and the law in Australia

The Australian Constitution

The role of the Governor-General

The House of Representatives

What do the three levels of

What role do political parties

Glossary of testable section

Government and the law in Australia

Australians of the Year

National days and celebrations

Australia as a global citizen

Australian Nobel Laureates

Our Australian story

The first Europeans to Australia

Indigenous people after European

Settlers and pioneers

The squatters and the farmers

The Great Depression, 1929 1932

Sir Edward Weary Dunlop

The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme

Treatment of Indigenous people

Indigenous people two decades

Glossary of non-testable section

For more information

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