Australian Citizenship Test 2016 (7)

The Australian Aboriginal Flag is a flag that represents Aboriginal Australians.The Australian Aboriginal Flag was designed in 1971 by Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas, who is descended from the Luritja people of Central Australia and holds intellectual property rights to the flag’s design. The flag was originally designed for the land rights movement, and it became a symbol of the Aboriginal people of Australia.
It is horizontally divided into a black region (above) and a red (Pantone 179) region (below). A yellow (Pantone 123) disc is superimposed over the centre of the flag.
-> Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia.
-> Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector.
-> Red – represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land.

Local governments will remain the main permit authority responsible for building control. where the State is obliged to give approvals under a State Agreement Act. Special permit authorities can also be created to allow local governments to join together to provide building control services, or to deal with special precincts that might cover more than one local government area.

Millions of people from all over the world have made Australia their home. Their lives and experiences have influenced all aspects of Australian life. In the 1800s, British and Irish settlers dominated the complex and diverse societies in the colonies. This extended beyond the legal, civil and political systems. British pastimes, cultural activities and religious practices dominated. However, different attitudes about class, the roles of men and women, workers, the poor and racial mixing contributed to a society.

During the Australian gold rushes, significant numbers of workers (both from other areas within Australia and from overseas), relocated to areas in which gold had been discovered. A number of gold finds occurred in Australia prior to 1851, but only the gold found from 1851 onwards created gold rushes. This is mainly because, prior to 1851, the colonial government of New South Wales (Victoria did not become a separate colony until 1 July 1851, and Tasmania did not become a separate colony until 1856) had suppressed news of gold finds which it believed would reduce the workforce and destabilise the economy.

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian. It’s the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It’s the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.
Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.

The Torres Strait Islander Flag is an official flag of Australia, and is the flag that represents Torres Strait Islander people.The green panels at the top and the bottom of the flag symbolise the land, while the blue panel in the centre represents the waters of the Torres Strait. The thin black stripes between the green and blue panels signify the Torres Strait Islanders themselves. The white five-pointed star at the centre of the flag represents the five major island groups, and the white dhari (dancer’s headdress) around it also symbolises the Torres Strait Islands people. White symbolises peace, while the star is a symbol for navigation.

The Australian Coat of Arms is the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. Above the shield is the Commonwealth Star above a blue and gold wreath, forming the crest. Six of the points on the star represent the original six states, while the seventh point represents the combined territories and any future states of Australia.

Freedom of association
In Australia We are free to join any organisation or group if it is legal. We can choose to belong to a trade union or to a political party. Having and debating points of view allows for a healthy and strong democracy.

It is usually against the law to discriminate against you or harass you because of the following personal characteristics:
– race, colour, nationality or social origin
– sex, intersex status, gender identity or sexual orientation
– age
– medical or criminal records
– physical, intellectual, psychiatric or mental disability
– marital or relationship status or family or carer’s responsibilities
– pregnancy (or potential pregnancy) or breastfeeding
– religion
– political opinion
– trade union activity

It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens to enroll and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums.
You are eligible to enroll if you:
– are an Australian citizen, or eligible British subject,
– aged 18 years and over, and
– have lived at your address for at least one month.

You can join the ADF at 17 but start your application earlier if you wish. To apply for a career in the Navy, Army or Air Force you must be at least 16 years and 6 months old, though you can start thinking about a career in the ADF much earlier.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for providing the Australian people with an independent electoral service which meets their needs and encourages them to understand and participate in the electoral process.

The Australian Parliament consists of the Queen (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate and the House of Representatives.The Australian Parliament is bicameral, which means there are two houses. The House of Representatives and the Senate.

Under the Australian Constitution, the States are responsible for everything not listed as a Federal responsibility. However, sometimes both levels are involved. Major State responsibilities include schools, hospitals, conservation and environment, roads, railways and public transport, public works, agriculture and fishing, industrial relations, community services, sport and recreation, consumer affairs, police, prisons and emergency services. Each state has its own constitution setting out its system of government.

The Senate is one of the two houses of the Australian Federal Parliament. It consists of 76 senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It shares the power to make laws with the other House of the Parliament, the House of Representatives.

State/territory governments have the power to look after laws not covered by the federal government; for instance, hospitals, schools, police and housing services.

The council looks after aspects of public health such as arranging for garbage and recyclable waste to be collected, checking that restaurants and shops are clean, registering dogs and destroying vermin. It is also responsible for street signs and traffic control. Some councils run libraries, museums and theatres and provide public halls and swimming pools.

The relevance of the Rule of Law is demonstrated by application of the following principles in practice.

-The law is made by representatives of the people in an open and transparent way.
-The law and its administration is subject to open and free criticism by the people, who may assemble without fear.
-The law is applied equally and fairly, so that no one is above the law.
-The law is capable of being known to everyone, so that everyone can comply.
-All people are presumed to be innocent until proven otherwise and are entitled to remain silent and are not required to incriminate themselves.