Equality of all people under the law
AUSTRALIAN VALUES In the real test, every values question must be correct.
Australian society values the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race, or national or ethnic origin. There are a number of laws in Australia that protect a person from being treated differently from others.
The law is applied in Australia so that people from different backgrounds are not given preferential treatment, nor discriminated against. For example, Buddhists and people of all other faiths receive the same treatment as Christians. Under our laws, two people can marry each other, including marriage between two men or two women.
Men and women have equal rights in Australia and should be provided equality of opportunity to pursue their goals and interests. Both men and women have equal access to education and employment, can vote at elections, stand for parliament, join the Australian Defence Force and the police force, and are treated equally in courts of law.
It is against the law to discriminate against a person because of their gender. In Australia, it is a right for a woman to get a job ahead of a man, if she has better qualifications and skills. Both men and women have the right to make their own independent choices about personal matters, such as marriage and religion, and are protected by the law from intimidation or violence. Physical violence against a spouse or partner is never acceptable and it is a criminal offence in Australia.
Divorce is acceptable in Australia. Either a husband or a wife may apply for a divorce to the courts, even if the other spouse wishes to continue the marriage.
Test yourself on this topic
14 questions on this topic, each with the answer explained.
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1. A Buddhist family worry that Australian law will favour Christians over them. What is the position?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Each faith is treated under the rules of its own religious courts
- Christians are given preference because their faith is more common
- Buddhists and other faiths receive the same treatment as Christians
- Only faiths with a long history here receive equal treatment
Explanation: The law makes no distinction between faiths. Every religion is treated the same way.
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2. A husband tells his wife to give up her studies because he is the head of the house. What do Australian values say?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Decisions of this kind sit outside Australian values entirely
- A wife may study only with her husband's written consent
- Men and women should have equality of opportunity to pursue goals
- A husband may decide what his wife studies or does
Explanation: Men and women have equal rights here, so a wife may pursue her own goals and interests.
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3. A man who uses a wheelchair fears that he will be treated as less important than others. What does Australian society value?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Equal rights only for people who are able to work
- Special rights that place him ahead of other citizens
- Equal rights only in matters that come before the courts
- The equal rights of all people, regardless of disability
Explanation: Equal rights in Australia apply to everyone, including people living with a disability.
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4. A wife wants a divorce, but her husband wishes the marriage to continue. What does Australian law allow?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Divorce is only granted when both spouses want it to happen
- She must wait until her husband agrees to end the marriage
- She may apply to the courts for a divorce even though he objects
- She may divorce only if her husband also signs the application
Explanation: Either spouse may ask the courts for a divorce. The other spouse cannot block it by refusing.
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5. A woman and a man apply for the same job, and the woman has better qualifications and skills. What does Australia expect?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- The employer should choose whoever applied for the job first
- The employer should split the role between the two of them
- The job should go to the man to keep the workplace balanced
- It is her right to get the job ahead of the man
Explanation: A better qualified woman has the right to the job. Gender must not be used to hand it to the man.
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6. A worker believes she is being treated differently from her colleagues for no good reason. What protection exists?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Protection exists only for workers who belong to a union
- A number of laws protect people from being treated differently
- Protection exists only for people who were born in Australia
- No protection exists unless physical violence has been used
Explanation: Australia has laws whose purpose is to stop people being singled out and treated differently.
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7. A young woman tells her family that she wants to become a police officer. What do Australian values say?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Women may work with the police only in office positions
- Those services are open only to men who were born here
- Women may join the police force and the Defence Force
- Women need their family's permission to enter those services
Explanation: Women in Australia have the same right as men to serve in the police and the Defence Force.
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8. An adult woman wants to choose her own partner and her own religion, but her relatives object. What does Australia expect?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- She may choose freely only after she has become a citizen
- Her relatives may decide these personal matters on her behalf
- She has the right to make her own choices on personal matters
- She must accept the choices made by the head of her family
Explanation: Adults in Australia decide their own personal matters, such as marriage and religion, for themselves.
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9. An employer decides not to promote a worker simply because she is a woman. What does Australian law say?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- It is allowed if the workplace already has more women than men
- It is against the law to discriminate because of a person's gender
- It is allowed if the role has always been held by a man in the past
- It is a decision that the employer may make for any reason at all
Explanation: Treating someone worse at work because of their gender is unlawful discrimination in Australia.
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10. During an argument at home, a man hits his wife. How does Australian law treat this?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- It is a private family matter for the couple to settle
- It is acceptable if no serious injury is caused to her
- It is a criminal offence and is never acceptable
- It is acceptable if she started the argument herself
Explanation: Hitting a spouse or partner is a crime in Australia, whatever the argument was about.
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11. How is the law applied to people who come from different backgrounds in Australia?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- They are given extra help because their background is different
- They receive neither preferential treatment nor discrimination
- They are treated differently until they have become citizens
- They are judged by the customs of the country they came from
Explanation: The same law applies in the same way to everyone. Background brings neither an advantage nor a penalty.
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12. Two women who live together wish to marry each other. What does Australian law allow?
AUSTRALIAN VALUES- Marriage is only recognised between a man and a woman
- Two people can marry each other, including two men or two women
- They may marry only if a religious group agrees to conduct it
- They may register a partnership but they may not marry
Explanation: Marriage law in Australia covers two people of the same sex just as it covers a man and a woman.
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- Men are given first access to paid employment
- Access depends on the wishes of a person's family
- Both have equal access to education and employment
- Women have equal access to education but not to jobs
Explanation: Schooling, training and jobs are open to men and women on the same terms.
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- Standing for parliament
- Being excused from courts of law
- Choosing which laws they will obey
- Voting at elections
Explanation: Men and women take part in political life on the same terms, both as voters and as candidates.
From Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet