Before becoming the nation we know in 1901, Australia was divided up into six independent colonies, each mastering its own set of rules and constitution; traveling, trading, and even policing were unfocused because everywhere you went, things were different. You can learn more about this historical development in our Australia People citizenship test.
When we discuss Australia's big day, Australia Day on 26 January, we're remembering 1788 when the First Fleet from Great Britain decided to stop here. Although it's an enormous celebration, not everyone agrees because this day has a whole different meaning for Indigenous Australians. This complex history is covered in our Australian citizenship test.
Staying in the sky, the Union Jack goes to the Australian flag in the top left--providing us the daily reminder of Britain making its mark here. It's not only for looks -- it speaks about where we came from and how the British built their businesses and homes. These national symbols are explored in our citizenship test.
Delving into how vast this location actually is, Western Australia by itself is a giant, taking up about a third of Australia with its 2.5 million square kilometer stretch. Let's discussion diversity; thanks to many people choosing to call Australia home over the years—from who knows where—we've got an interesting combination of cultures that jazzes up our connection with places and faces beyond our backyard. You can practice these concepts in our citizenship practice test.
Entering into some serious content - everyone in Australia has to be treated fairly, no matter their story or where they've been, and that's in agreement with our democratic ways. It's focused on fairness and giving everyone an equal chance; and we can do this because of our system of government. These democratic principles are detailed in our Democratic Beliefs and Rights test.
Even though we have a big Judaeo-Christian tradition going on, the rule is that there's no official state religion -- and the government stays away from mixing with any one faith. Everyone is treated fairly in terms of beliefs or non-beliefs which is very good of them. These values are central to our Australian Values citizenship test.
Getting involved in how Australia swings through voting in elections is only on the table if you're an Aussie citizen. This is something the Australian Testable makes pretty clear: voting is your way to share your opinion about the future here, and joining the competition to get a seat in parliament? That's an open club--but only for those who've gotten Australian citizenship. These electoral processes are covered in our Government and Law citizenship test.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) remain completely the voting and election process fair and honest, making sure there's nothing dishonest; they're the people keeping things fair and square, without letting any political group change them. The Australian Government has a few names -- some people call it the Federal Government or the Commonwealth Government. It's primarily focused on understanding the different layers of management in Australia, which is quite fascinating since they have this federal setup.
When it comes to comparing state and territory governments, it's noticeably focused on their powers. States are fortunate because their rights are locked in by the Australian Constitution. This means they can make their own rules. Alternatively, territories are in a difficult situation because their laws can be changed or removed whenever the Australian Government decides. This situation shows how history molded Australia's government and why states and territories don't sit together.
Passing a law isn't a simple "Yes" or "No" in the House of Representatives. It becomes real only when the Governor-General stamps their approval on it--providing it the Royal Assent. In Australia, behaving when no one's watching is of significant consequence, as stated in the 'Australian Testable.' It's completely about respecting the law, no matter who you are or where you're from; this draws a clear line on the incredible weightiness of law adherence consistently.
Discussing respect, the 'Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond' resource is big on saying 'no' to religious intolerance. It regards giving everyone a fair chance at their dreams and interests, no matter their religion or where they came from. It's a team effort to keep these values important and respected in society.
Almost inevitably, we see how vital Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are to Australia's identity. Being the first to call Australia home, their cultures are ancient, running back over 40,000 years, as proven by old bones and ancient objects.
To test your overall knowledge on these topics, try our mock Australian citizenship test. For more comprehensive information on all these aspects of Australian citizenship, explore our blog for in-depth articles on various topics related to Australian citizenship and culture.
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