Australian values questions: the five you must get right
Every citizenship test includes 5 questions about Australian values. Even with a high overall score, you won’t pass unless you get all five right. Here’s what they cover, plus practice questions.
What Australian values mean
Part 4 of Our Common Bond describes the values Australians share. In plain terms:
- Respect for every person’s freedom and dignity. People can hold different views and make their own lawful choices.
- Freedom of speech, association and religion. You can speak, join groups and follow any religion (or none), within the law.
- The Rule of Law. Everyone, including leaders and police, must obey the law. Religious rules never override Australian law.
- Parliamentary democracy and peaceful change. Disagreements are settled by discussion and the democratic process, never by violence or threats.
- Equality. Men and women have equal rights. Discrimination because of gender, race or religion is unacceptable.
- A fair go. Everyone deserves an equal chance to succeed through their own effort. It doesn’t mean everyone gets the same result.
- Mateship and compassion. Helping each other, especially in hard times, and supporting people in need.
- English as the national language. It unites the community, and making an effort to learn it helps you take part fully.
Laws that often come up
Values questions often test whether you know certain things are against the law in Australia, whatever someone’s culture or religion: forced marriage, polygamy, domestic and family violence, and racial abuse or discrimination.
Practice values questions
What does respecting the freedom and dignity of others mean?
- ARespecting other people’s opinions and lawful choices
- BMaking others follow your beliefs
- CTreating some backgrounds as superior
- DUsing threats to settle disagreements
Show answer
Answer: A. Respecting other people’s opinions and lawful choices
Individuals must respect the freedom, dignity, opinions and choices of others.
Can violence be used to make someone change their mind?
- ANo, never
- BYes, if the issue is serious
- CYes, during a protest
- DYes, within a family
Show answer
Answer: A. No, never
Australians believe in peaceful disagreement and the right to be safe from violence.
What should you do when a police officer makes a lawful request?
- AIgnore it
- BArgue until they leave
- CFollow it
- DFollow it only if you agree
Show answer
Answer: C. Follow it
The lawful actions of the police should be supported.
Does a fair go mean everyone ends up with the same result?
- ANo, it means everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed
- BYes, everyone receives the same income
- CYes, everyone gets the same job
- DNo, it means wealthy people get more chances
Show answer
Answer: A. No, it means everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed
What someone achieves should come from their hard work and talents.
Which shows the Australian value of compassion?
- ARefusing to help strangers
- BIgnoring people in need
- CVisiting someone who is sick, frail or lonely
- DHelping only people of your own background
Show answer
Answer: C. Visiting someone who is sick, frail or lonely
Australians value mateship and helping each other in times of need.
If a religious practice conflicts with Australian law, which applies?
- AWhichever the person prefers
- BThe community leader’s decision
- CThe religious practice
- DAustralian law
Show answer
Answer: D. Australian law
Religious practices must not break Australian law.
Can someone be forced to marry in Australia?
- ANo, forced marriage is illegal
- BYes, if it is a religious tradition
- COnly if both families agree
- DYes, if their parents agree
Show answer
Answer: A. No, forced marriage is illegal
People have the right to make their own choices about marriage.
Is racism acceptable in Australia?
- AYes, online
- BOnly at sporting events
- CYes, in private
- DNo, racism has no place in Australia
Show answer
Answer: D. No, racism has no place in Australia
Racial abuse and discrimination can also break the law.
Tips for the values questions
- The right answer usually supports peace, equality, respect and obeying Australian law.
- Watch for options that excuse violence or law-breaking “because of tradition” or “inside a family”. Those are always wrong.
- Read each option fully. Some wrong answers start reasonably and then add a condition that makes them incorrect.
Practise every values question until you get them all right.
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