There’s A New Citizenship Test Based On “Aussie Values” And People Are Already Ripping Into It

This morning Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, announced sweeping changes to Australia’s citizenship test for migrants.

The best way to sum it up is probably “Australia, fuck yeah.”

The revamped test, which migrants have to pass before they’re eligible for Australian citizenship, will include an English language quiz and questions focused on “Australian values”. When Turnbull was asked at a press conference exactly what those Australian values were, he struggled to provide an answer.

Wow. Malcolm Turnbull asked to summarise what 'Australian values' are. Doesn't answer, says it will go out for public consultation…

— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) April 19, 2017

According to a discussion paper on the reforms the new test will require migrants to “demonstrate competent English language listening, speaking, reading and writing skills”, answer questions about Australian values (whatever they are) and demonstrate their “integration into the Australian community”.

The citizenship test was introduced by the Howard government in 2007 and in its first iteration seriously included a question about Donald Bradman’s batting average.

Today’s discussion paper has really gone overboard on the Australiana theme. The front page features wattle, just to remind everyone that this is about ‘Strayan values:

There’s even more wattle on the third page:

Just in case you thought this whole citizenship test stuff was racist dogwhistling designed to stir up anti-migrant sentiment and ward off One Nation amidst a plunging Coalition primary vote, you’re wrong. The discussion paper includes brown people.

The new focus of the test will be on so-called Australian values. But if the Prime Minister can’t think of any, what hope do potential new citizens have? Luckily, the internet is here to help:

#AustralianValues
– telling others where speed cameras are
– saying 'gronk'
– calling Asian service staff 'boss'
– coward punch

— Lucy Valentine (@LucyXIV) April 19, 2017

I'm not racist, but #AustralianValues

— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) April 19, 2017

Being a millionaire and not paying any taxes…#AustralianValues

— Richard Tuffin (@RichardTuffin) April 19, 2017

2018, citizenship test, question 2 #Australianvalues pic.twitter.com/z8ZhhXf3Ix

— Wes Mountain (@therevmountain) April 19, 2017

Key Australian Value: leaving your shopping trolley in your parking spot rather than pushing it 30 metres to the trolley bay

— Tim Callanan (@MrTimCallanan) April 19, 2017

One Australian Senator owns 33 properties, while 48 millionaires pay no income tax – not even the Medicare levy #AustralianValues

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) April 20, 2017

#AustralianValues Knowing the best way to inflate a goonbag without getting too much wine on your new good shoes

— Kath and Kim Now (@KathAndKimToday) April 20, 2017

The government plans on introducing new legislation to revamp the citizenship process by the end of the year.