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Teach instead of test

By Peter van Vliet - posted Monday, 12 May 2008


The much smaller refugee and humanitarian component of our immigration program was always going to have problems with a higher-level computerised test. Rather than test them and create exclusionary barriers that have disastrous consequence for them as individuals and, more broadly, for Australia's reputation, let's create a “teach” rather than “test” exemption for this special-needs category.

Applicants could take classes on the important role of citizenship, on Australia and its people (including an introduction to basic English skills) and when these are successfully completed, they could be conferred with Australian citizenship, without a test being necessary.

In this way Australia would no longer be in breach of its humanitarian obligations to provide our refugees with citizenship (which is actually a core human right under article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). It would also give our refugees the chance of new hope and a new start rather than the continued uncertainty and hopelessness of being stateless.

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Our larger category of skilled migrants would continue to take the current test and no one would be the worse off.

Citizenship is not just about rights and responsibilities, it's an affirmation of belonging. It allows you to travel unhindered with a valid passport, to visit dying loved ones overseas or to attend cultural or religious pilgrimages and return home safely. It's about being able to call Australia your home rather than your residence.

Akoch Manheim of the Sudanese Lost Boys Association said it is hard to "truly express how it feels for a stateless person to receive the privilege of Australian citizenship in a country like Australia. An approximation might be the experience of a person who has battled a serious illness, experiencing the borderline of death, only to recover and resume full health. Citizenship is a gift from God of priceless value." It is only when you talk to people who have been non-citizens that you begin to understand its immense significance.

Reflecting on Australia's national anthem recently, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "You've got verses like: For those who come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share. That should be the resolve of any Australian government, unlike the one that we replaced, which seemed to pull up the shutters when it came to our proper international obligations, particularly to refugees who found themselves in real strife."

These were words that gave heart to many people working with migrants and refugees who had previously been used to very mixed messages about the intrinsic value of the migrants and refugees who help make up this country.

Removing the discriminatory barriers from the new citizenship test would be a great place to start if we want to achieve a truly inclusive Australia.

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First published in The Age on April 30, 2008.



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About the Author

Peter van Vliet is a senior public servant.

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