Australia releases details of citizenship test

Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews released a draft of a proposed resource book entitled 'Becoming an Australian Citizen'. The book contains a preliminary draft of questions that will be asked in the proposed citizenship test for immigrants wishing to become naturalized.

The draft book is part of an information kit that includes fact sheets about how the test will be implemented as well as answering general questions about the proposed test.

The final draft of the book will be widely available in printed, electronic, and audio formats. A short sample of the test will be made available in the future as well.

The draft contains 20 questions designed to help prepare the potential citizen for the test, which are reprinted below:

1. In what year did Federation take place?
2. Which day of the year is Australia Day?
3. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?
4. What is the first line of Australia's national anthem?
5. What is the floral emblem of Australia?
6. What is the population of Australia?
7. In what city is the Parliament House of the Commonwealth Parliament located?
8. Who is the Queen's representative in Australia?
9. How are Members of Parliament chosen?
10. Who do members of Parliament represent?
11. After a federal election, who forms the new government?
12. What are the colours on the Australian flag?
13. Who is the head of the Australian Government?
14. What are the three levels of government in Australia?
15. In what year did the European settlement of Australia start?
16. Serving on a jury if required is a responsibility of Australian citizenship: true or false?
17. In Australia, everyone is free to practice the religion of their choice, or practice no religion: true or false?
18. To be elected to the Commonwealth Parliament you must be an Australian citizen: true or false?
19. As an Australian citizen, I have the right to register my baby born overseas as an Australian citizen: true or false?
20. Australian citizens aged 18 years or over are required to enroll on the electoral register: true or false?

Under the proposed legislation, a potential citizen will need to pass 12 out of 20 questions, which are drawn at random from a pool of about 200 questions. An applicant for Australian citizenship can sit the test as many times as needed, according to Andrews.

"It is important that people who wish to become Australian citizens can demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Australia and our way of life," he Andrews.

"A citizenship test provides the means of ensuring that prospective citizens have such an understanding," he added.

The citizenship test is expected to go live later this year if the legislation passes Parliament.