How do you measure Australian-ness?
Posted on Monday 16th February 2009
Forgive the awkward neologism but there is no word for “being a true Australian”. Patriotism doesn’t quite cover it, as the word doesn’t imply nationality or the individual values associated with Australia. This lack of official descriptor (despite having the slang “ocker” ) might explain why it’s also difficult to truly define what it means to be Australian.
Well the Immigration department seems to think they know and have devised a test to assess this. It covers understandable material like Australian values, but then goes on to ask about founding history and national emblems. For example, they may well ask what the State flower of South Australia is.
Now I have no problem with the questions on duties, responsibilities and values expected of Australians, but draw the line at questions on state flora and fauna. Mostly this is because many born and bred Australians don’t know themselves. Also, what does knowing the name of an animal make someone Australian. Just the like the test I am revising for, anyone can acquire knowledge but it doesn’t mean you necessarily understand.
The United Kingdom has a similar quiz presumably because there are so many British values that we can’t take it for granted that people will know them all. Whether they abide by these once the test has been passed is anyone’s guess.
Surely it would be better to ask questions that really matter like “Do you kids go to a general/public admission school?”, “How many people outside your immediate ethnic group do you know?”, “Who would you vote for if there was an election, and why?”. I would suggest that these and similar questions will probe whether candidates are really interested in becoming integrated members of society.
The ridiculous thing is that you don’t even need to speak English to become a citizen, as the preparation booklet and test are available in a variety of languages! How can you be Australian if you don’t even speak the local lingo. I would advocate applicants needing to know what sayings like “You’ve got Buckley’s chance”, “She’ll be right” or “More front than Myer’s” mean. That’s a true measure of whether you have absorbed Australian-ness.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering. SA’s state flower is the Sturt Desert Pea.
