What are the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens?

What are the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens?

The booklet splits citizenship into two lists. Responsibilities are what you give Australia. Privileges are what Australia gives you.

You will see both lists in Part 2. Learn the lists as lists, because a question can ask for one item from either side.

The four responsibilities

As a citizen you must:

• keep to Australia's laws
• vote at federal, state and territory elections, and at a referendum
• help defend the country if it is ever needed
• take your turn on a jury when called

Notice the small detail on defence. Joining the Defence Force is a free choice. The duty is to be ready to defend the country and its way of life if it ever comes to that.

Jury service is for citizens aged 18 or over who are on the electoral roll. A jury is made up of everyday people. They hear the evidence in a court case and then decide whether the accused is guilty or not guilty. The booklet says this helps keep the courts open and fair.

The six privileges

As a citizen you can:

• vote at federal, state and territory elections, and at a referendum
• ask for citizenship by descent for your child born overseas
• go for work in the Australian Public Service or the Australian Defence Force
• stand as a candidate for parliament
• hold an Australian passport and return to the country freely
• ask Australian government staff for help while you are overseas

Voting appears on both lists. The booklet calls it a responsibility, a right and a privilege, for citizens aged 18 or over.

A few details worth knowing

To stand for parliament you must be 18 or over and not a dual citizen. Returning to Australia freely means you do not need a visa to come home.

Consular help covers emergencies such as civil unrest and natural disasters. Staff can also help with an emergency passport, and with advice if there is an accident, serious illness or a death. While you are abroad, the local laws apply to you too.

The booklet also says citizens should take part in society. That can mean joining a local group, volunteering or joining an arts group. Paying tax is required by law, and it pays for services like healthcare, schools, roads and defence.

Why the booklet puts these two lists together

Citizenship in this booklet is a two-way deal. You get a passport, a vote and the right to stand for office. In return you accept duties that keep the country orderly and fair. Read the lists that way and the items are easier to place: a duty is something you carry, a privilege is something you can use.

How to remember the lists

Responsibilities are short and heavy: law, vote, defend, jury. Privileges are about doors that open: work, parliament, passport, help abroad, children, and the vote.

Next, read how voting works in Australia and the democratic beliefs. The whole part is covered in the Part 2 guide. Then try the free practice test to see what sticks.

Check yourself

• Can you say the four responsibilities without looking?
• Can you name three privileges that are not voting?
• Which responsibility is a choice in practice, and which is not?