Democratic Beliefs, Rights and Liberties

Australia is a parliamentary democracy. This means that the power of the government comes from the Australian people.

Instead of making every decision themselves, citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf in parliament.

In Australia, we believe in the rule of law. This means that everyone must obey the law, and everyone is treated equally before the law.

No one is above the law. Not politicians, not religious leaders, not police, and not business leaders. All Australians, regardless of their background or beliefs, must follow the laws made by parliament.

Australians are proud of their peaceful society. We believe that change should happen through democratic processes, such as voting and peaceful persuasion, rather than through violence.

Violence against another person or their property is illegal. It is never acceptable to use violence to resolve disputes or to protest against the government.

Australians are free to say what they think and share their ideas, even if those ideas are unpopular or critical of the government.

This is called freedom of speech. People can express their views through writing, art, film, or peaceful protest.

However, freedom of speech does not mean you can break the law. It is illegal to encourage violence against others, make false allegations, or use speech to incite hatred or discrimination.

In Australia, you have the right to join any legal organisation you choose. This is called freedom of association.

You can join a political party, a trade union, a religious group, or a social club. People can also gather together peacefully to protest against government actions or laws.

Just as you are free to join groups, you cannot be forced to join any organisation against your will.

Australia has a secular government, meaning there is no official national religion. The government treats all citizens equally, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Under freedom of religion, you are free to follow any religion, or choose not to follow a religion at all.

However, religious practices must not break Australian law. If there is a conflict between religious rules and Australian law, Australian law must always be followed.

Australians believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or religious beliefs.

We value a fair go, meaning that what someone achieves in life should be a result of their own talents and hard work, not their wealth or background.

In Australia, men and women have equal rights. It is illegal to discriminate against a person because of their gender when it comes to employment, education, or other areas of public life.

As an Australian citizen, you have certain responsibilities that you must uphold. These include:

- **Obeying the law:** All citizens must follow the laws of Australia.
- **Voting:** It is compulsory for citizens aged 18 and over to vote in federal, state, and territory elections, and referendums.
- **Jury service:** If called upon, you must serve on a jury to assist in the justice system.
- **Defending Australia:** If the need arises, citizens may be called upon to defend the country.

Along with responsibilities, Australian citizenship brings several privileges:

- **Voting:** The right to vote and have a say in how the country is run.
- **Standing for parliament:** Citizens aged 18 and over can run for election to parliament.
- **Australian passport:** The right to apply for an Australian passport and travel freely.
- **Consular assistance:** The ability to seek help from Australian embassies while travelling overseas.
- **Government jobs:** The right to apply for jobs in the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Public Service.
- **Registering children:** The ability to register children born overseas as Australian citizens by descent.