Hi Cheryl, you want policy check out this link

http://www.democrats.org.au/campaigns/election_07_our_election_platform/#economy

Small Business policy is under A Modern Economy. Now compare it and any other detailed policies to any other party let alone the Greens or FamilyFirst.

The point about this test is it proves absolutely nothing. I agree English is useful but we have had thousands of migrants come to this country with little or no English (certainly not enough to pass this test) who have made fantastic contributions to Australia.

This policy doesn't weed out undesirables anymore than demonsising refugees who arrive by boat but hey its easier to dog whistle than to come up with policies and services that integrate all Australians wherever you were born and whatever language you speak.

Geez the advertising wizards behind the Liberals are ingenious.

No one questions the campaign advertisement agenda. They're reeling in the xenophobes hook, line, and sinker with this one.

Pauline Hanson eat your heart out ... they're stealing your target audience!

I don't have a problem with the basic idea of this test. It's not so much about preventing anyone from becoming a citizen as it is about ensuring they educate themselves about the basics of the nation they are joining. There are probably plenty of issues with the content of the test, however most of the criticism in this article goes a bit far.

The only criticism I'd agree with is the exclusion of the Democrats (and presumably other minor parties) from the history. Ideally any political party with a current or recent sitting member should be covered. Not only is it important to maintain political neutrality, it would be a good way to demonstrate the diversity of views and openness of the political process in this country.

I don't think the test is the place to be covering current or recent political issues (tampa, climate change, iraq). Firstly as it would be impossible to keep the content both up to date and reasonably free from bias. Secondly as people in this country are likely to be saturated with information about these issues through the media anyway.

I think the claim of a sexist history is misplaced. Society was quite sexists throughout our history and trying to cover over it by over-emphasizing the role of women would be quite ludicrous. Equally not expecting people to learn the basics of the national language would be doing them a disservice. As these people are now going to be voting and having a say in how this country is run, I think it's critical that they be able to comprehend what our politicians and laws say.

One thing I do agree with, is that our current treatment of immigrants, particularly refugees, goes against the values that the test claims are at the heart of this country. I don't think this is a problem with the test, rather a problem with the immigration process. I think the current government should take a look at itself and consider just how poorly its actions align with the values of the nation it claims to represent.

I received a copy of part of the test via email. These were some of the questions on

CUSTOMS
1. Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to Surfers in their Torana. If they are travelling at 100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca Dacca, how many slabs will each person on average consume between flashing a brown eye and having a slash?
2. Complete the following sentences:
a) "If the van's rockin' don't bother ...
b) You're going home in the back of a ...
c) Fair suck of the ...
3. I've had a gutful and I can't be fagged. Discuss
4. Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
5. Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their front yard "up on blocks"? Is his name Keith and does he have a wife called Cheryl?

Now that's a test!

Hangon westernred, fair suck of the sav re point five. Keith's up on blocks and I'm in the kitchen watchin Neighbours.

Pauline Hanson's statements today says it all for "bigots" when it comes to swinging the flag for one's own group, on race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

Australia would be nowhere without the Democrates, the Greens and all those with the wealth of diversity and who bother to critically challenge the bigots.

A dark-hued somber hangs over the greatest hypocrisy testing our citizenship today. With phoney Aussie elections the norm at home and the trouble we cause abroad... let's hope we can get it right.... and come out on the other side of this incommodious power struggle.

To fill this country with more hot air or gas would just make the contemptuous insolence swell larger attracting yet more insensitivity and erode more the “peacefulness” value.

1) I think I would not have passed the citizen test.
2) Those who advocate this test know little about the true value of their citizenship.
3) A Government advocating this sort of hypocrisy has little substance or significance in our daily lives because most of what it claims is out of touch and not solidly based.
4) Value = a measure of those qualities that determine merit, desirability, usefulness, or importance. What usefulnes does the test... a persons submission or memory?
5) Citizenship is supposed to represent duties, rights, and privileges.... (It is about an Action not a Colonial History)

And I respect Anna Bligh (QLD) for speaking out on the Sudan residents of Australia today.

I am one citizen counting on our leaders to find the spunk to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED as the confrontation between opposing groups in which each attempts to harm or gain power over the other in politics continues in coming weeks.

And, I want the Human Rights Commission to take the Government to Court over their racist immigration stance, and to go ALL the way.

Racism needs to be eradicated everywhere and especially in Australia where we ought to know better.

http://www.miacat.com
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