XipeTotec Posted October 2, 2007 (edited) not sure if anyone has mentioned this before... but am I the only person who very, very embarrassed about the proposed?(it may have been approved) test given to refuges about being "australian"? What the fuck... i think an african refuge, who has been starving, in a war torn country has a little more on his mind than which australian won wimbledon in 1971, or some equally lame shit which I dont even know. maybe its just me, but i find this offensive and embarrassing, and seemingly racist. Edited October 2, 2007 by XipeTotec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted October 2, 2007 Sounds to me like australia needs a few more genuine heroes and role models. Wimbledon may be an entertaining distraction for some but it hardly carries much ultimate meaning. Need like Crocodile Gandhee or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
occidentalis Posted October 2, 2007 Auxin, is devance at your house? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conan Troutman Posted October 3, 2007 Was curious if already citizens can do the test? Would love to find out if Im up to standard too live here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted October 3, 2007 test given to refuges about being "australian"? I thought the tests were for people to attain citizenship, not to give refugee status (that just seems to be left up to how the immigration minister is feeling at the time). And how the hell does it make Australia racist? I agree with what Conan is implying, that most citizens wouldn't be able to pass the test, so I don't see how this is set up to specifically give preference to or exclude any particular ethnic Group. Australia does have quite a few problems regarding racism, but reacting in this way, calling it an example of racism just trivialises the real problems regarding racism that Australia needs to overcome. -bumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nothinghead Posted October 3, 2007 I would say codifying nationalism into immigration policy and implying that a set of historical knowledge is necessary to live here is racist, at the least in that it seeks a similar result to assimilation. It also provides a convienient segue into reinstating something similar to the White Australia Policy - which has been suggested in recent years. Plus it raises the problem of what sort of knowledge we regard as essential to Australian nationalism. To me, knowing where the three sisters are, or how many runs Bradman got, are not particularly useful facts to know, nor are they even very productive in a patriotic framework. Even for those who think the test (in itself) is a good idea, historically we have seen how these types of laws are manipulated to satisfy the discriminatory impulses of the government with the White Australia Policy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Serpent Posted October 3, 2007 IMO, to be able to speak English. I know this maybe looked down upon, but this is an english speaking country and when my family immigrated here during WW2 (German) they had to learn English. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XipeTotec Posted October 3, 2007 (edited) I thought the tests were for people to attain citizenship, not to give refugee status (that just seems to be left up to how the immigration minister is feeling at the time).And how the hell does it make Australia racist? I agree with what Conan is implying, that most citizens wouldn't be able to pass the test, so I don't see how this is set up to specifically give preference to or exclude any particular ethnic Group. -bumpy why hold minorities to a standard that we dont even hold ourselves to? Edited October 3, 2007 by XipeTotec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted October 3, 2007 why hold minorities to a standard that we dont even hold ourselves to? I don't see how the test is singling out minorities. It's testing trivial parts of Australia's history, doesn't matter if you are white, black or yellow, chances are you aren't going to know the answers unless you specifically study for it. I don't agree with the test at all, I think it is a retarded idea, and just a PR prop for government to appear as though they are doing something for their perks and future pension. I still don't agree with "the test is racist". -bumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Legba Posted October 3, 2007 Give the test a go HERE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
husk Posted October 3, 2007 if it requires one to know certain things about aboriginal australia as well then it wouldn't be 'racist'... but even if it did it is still definately a useless, pointless exercise that would itself be ignorant to everything else about australia that is not included... i think all of us citizens should have taken the test first to see if ANYONE actually gives a fuck about the answers anyway! x peace Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
husk Posted October 3, 2007 Give the test a go HERE. Give three Australian colloquialisms for swimming suit: - give three for 'who cares'. Who was the first prime minister of Australia? - how about, who was the worst? What was the name of Captain Cook's ship? - what's an aboriginal name for 'harbinger'? What is celebrated on Australia Day? - now this one could offend some australians of a certain race i suppose... just goes to show how ancient and irrelevant the government's ideals are if this is what matters to them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auntyjack Posted October 3, 2007 LMAO...I can just see it, "Narhh PAL, if ya don't know wot 'DICK TOGGS' are, ya cun jist FARK OFF!. Alf mate get this flamin mongrel out of my sight!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tardistestpilot Posted October 3, 2007 (edited) http://www.citizenship.gov.au/test/resourc...et-full-ver.pdf here is there official book/booklet/study manual the pdf version they sent me yes i agree with most that this is a load of shit designed more likely to too make it just little harder for immigrants to vote maybe this election i have heard that if you can recognize difference of race on any level then are we not all racists ? i do not intend to offend anybody with this post Edited October 3, 2007 by tardistestpilot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted October 3, 2007 Give the test a go HERE. 9/10 ... what mark do you need to get to be a citizen? You answered correctly 9 questions out of 10. Look at the questions where you gave a wrong answer, and try to memorize the correct answer, shown in Yellow. so you just need to be good at rote learning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted October 3, 2007 I've been here 25 years, now more about australian history and culture than most australians, but ask me a question about cricket and I wouldn't have a clue [not any interest]. How is that unaustralian? In all my 25 years here I have never had the need to know anything about Bradman other than that he is a cricketer and that only so I can have a conversation with boneheads I'd normally not bother talking to anyway. Being a migrant who strived to integrate quickly and fully and who has no real connection with my birth country [other than that an EU passport is VERY convenient for travelling] I know what is important and what is not. I am really not sure what the new test is really trying to achieve, but from my perspective it is not helping. I would think that compulsory lesson attendance [possibly followed by an exam] would be much more useful. Lessons that allow people to understand australian history, culture and politics - where they can ask questions and make comparisons to their own culture. Lessons that in themselves would require a good grasp of english to attend and to pass the exam on. Changing citizenship should not just be a formality, especially where there are major cultural differences. Now that would be a worthwhile process, but it would surely cost a lot more money than sending out a booklet with multiple choice questions. This test is a simplistic solution by a simplistic government. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
husk Posted October 3, 2007 (edited) LMAO...I can just see it, "Narhh PAL, if ya don't know wot 'DICK TOGGS' are, ya cun jist FARK OFF!. Alf mate get this flamin mongrel out of my sight!" oh man it's not far from the truth either, 2 months back in country and i can't fucking stand it AGAIN! http://www.citizenship.gov.au/test/resourc...et-full-ver.pdfhere is there official book/booklet/study manual the pdf version they sent me yes i agree with most that this is a load of shit designed more likely to too make it just little harder for immigrants to vote maybe this election i have heard that if you can recognize difference of race on any level then are we not all racists ? i do not intend to offend anybody with this post i suppose i would have thought that 'racially intolerant' or 'racially bigoted' would be more politically correct in referring to some who is thus or believes thus, but that 'racist' refers to an individual that believes in all the aspects that define or comprise a race or races, or places 'race' as a very important concept or phenomenon in their life just as a communist has a heightened belief in the particular concept of a communal society than the 'normal' person would. i think if you can recognize differences in different races and thus superiority and inferiority in the certain areas that they apply to than it would just make you a 'race recognizer' although inferiority and superiority must surely only be relative to who thinks they are either or.. what would you call someone that dislikes the importance of racial differences? 'racialist'? cos i would consider myself that. peace and unity x Edited October 3, 2007 by husk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nabraxas Posted October 3, 2007 just to clear up any confusion... the test does not decide who can & cannot live here, it just decides who can become a voting citizen. You could fail or not even bother to take the test & remain a resident. There already was a basic test ov english before gaining citizenship, in that you had to pass an interview where you were asked to explain the differences between a resident & a citizen. There maybe some argument for ensuring that prospective citizens have a certain level ov english, but to demand that all immigrants speak english seems divisive. Is it fair to demand that people fleeing torture & death speak english before we release them from detention centers? or that the wife ov a chartered marine civil engineer on a professional development visa speaks english? How are we to take the immigration minister Kevin Andrews playing the race card? The Federal Opposition says Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews appears to have changed his justification for slashing Australia's intake of African refugees.Mr Andrews has come under fire for saying the cut was partly driven by concerns African refugees are not integrating properly in Australia. Labor Immigration spokesman Tony Burke says the capacity to integrate has always been taken into account when visa checks are done in the countries refugees are fleeing. But he says Mr Andrews is giving a new reason for reducing the intake of African refugees. "The reasons he's giving now and getting a lot of publicity for are not the reasons that were given at the time of the decision," he said. "The decision enjoyed bi-partisan support because it was being made for the same reasons that both sides of politics have always made these decisions. "That is that the Government has gone to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and said 'where in the world can we help best?' and the Minister has brought back a submission to Cabinet." http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/03/2050297.htm there must be an election coming as the govt. clearly wants to be seen as getting tough on immigrants w/this stoopid test & anti-african rhetoric. Unfortunately it's a tactic that red-neck Australia will love. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted October 3, 2007 (edited) The latest example of a story on African refugees I've seen was about groups who were residing in Toowoomba... only this article was very positive, saying how well they were adapting and fitting in with the community (except for one or two rednecks from t-ba who had a problem with them). Haven't seen any examples of african immigrants creating problems (except for maybe white south-africans and zimbaweans being pricks at private school rugby games). -bumpy Edited October 3, 2007 by MrBumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ace Posted October 3, 2007 8 out of 10 (not too bad IMO). I dont see what the big deal is - if you want to spend a great deal of your life living in a foreign country, wouldnt you want to know a bit about it anyway? I wouldnt want to move to say, Russia or Greece or where ever without knowing a bit of the history, the people, the culture, etc first. Fair enough, if you come from a war-torn country or have lived through famine or whatever, then you probably just want to escape as quick as possible. And, odds are, there are immigrants out there with more knowledge of the country than some of its inhabitants. That isnt racist, that shows that the people that want in are happy enough to respect the place that they want to live. The current inhabitants (you and me) should have learnt these things in school (they are part of the education system and always have been). I dont think there is any one leader who could give a toss if every person living here knew who Bradman or Pharlap was, simply because everyone has their own interests. If I was to ask how many cubic inches in a 4.2L Holden V8, I am pretty sure no one on this forum would be able to give a correct answer without sneeking a peek on google, simply because people dont care about the same things, and may even disagree with them (the answer is 253ci ). Holdens are as Aussie as eskies or Victa lawnmowers, but a lot of people would rather watch the local footy team make the grand final, or study mathematics, or whatever tickles their pickle. So someone who wants to move in next door has to sit an exam - who cares? If they want to live here, then they will have to study for it and pass, either with flying colours or just scraping through. Either way they are still just like you and me, each with their own interests and hobbies, wanting to find a home in a relatively peaceful country. I'm sure there are other countries out there with even more tight immigration policies, so why whinge about this petty little test? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XipeTotec Posted October 4, 2007 and if they dont like it... they can go back to where they come from! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ace Posted October 4, 2007 Or they could find somewhere that cares less about their history and culture... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XipeTotec Posted October 4, 2007 Or they could find somewhere that cares less about their history and culture... geez ace, i didnt think anyone was going to buy into that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auntyjack Posted October 4, 2007 (edited) ...so why whinge about this petty little test? Because after we lay quiet our own ego's and pettiness, should we not then strive to ensure that these qualities are present in our leaders, and that they be answerable to the truth as well? AJ Edited October 4, 2007 by Auntyjack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites