Australia considers testing immigrants

Since 04-30-06

April 28 2006

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=2024&art_id=qw1146194101405R131#

Sydney - Australia's conservative government has said it is considering testing immigrants' English skills and their understanding of Australian cultural values before allowing them to become citizens.

Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Robb said the exam would help immigrants fit into Australian society and improve their job prospects.

"This is a genuine attempt to find even better ways of integrating because we have got some serious problems," Robb told the conservative thinktank, The Sydney Institute, late on Thursday.

Robb said the test could help elements of Australia's 300 000-strong Muslim community integrate more fully into the general population.

'There's all this talk about Australian values but no one says exactly what they are'

The test would require a functional understanding of English, as well as knowledge of Australian history, customs, laws and values.

Robb cited individual freedom and commitment to the rule of law, gender equality, tolerance and the ethos of a "fair go" for all as quintessential Australian values.

The test would require a functional understanding of English, as well as knowledge of Australian history, customs, laws and values.

Robb cited individual freedom and commitment to the rule of law, gender equality, tolerance and the ethos of a "fair go" for all as quintessential Australian values.

However, representatives of ethnic groups said defining such values was a highly subjective exercise and the debate about a compulsory citizenship test should be conducted without populist political sloganeering.

A spokesperson for the Muslim community - still smarting from comments earlier this year when Treasurer Peter Costello said Islamic immigrants should respect Australian values or leave the country - reacted cautiously to the latest proposal.

"There's all this talk about Australian values but no one says exactly what they are," Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Ameer Ali told AFP.

"There's a lot of grey areas and no clear cut ideas and to bring a test in under these circumstances would be dangerous." - Sapa-AFP