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Citizen Rights
Being an Australian citizen is a privilege not a right. While you are granted entitlements as a citizen of Australia there are important responsibilities you must accept too. As an Australian citizen, you have new responsibilities to:
- behave in accordance with Australia's democratic beliefs
- respect the rights and liberties of Australia
- follow and obey the law
- vote in federal and state or territory elections, and in referenda
- defend Australia if necessary
- serve on jury duty if summoned
- Citizenship entitlements
As an Australian citizen, you are eligible for certain entitlements too. You can:
- apply for an Australian passport
- leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want
- ask for help from an Australian consulate if in trouble overseas
- vote in federal, state or territory elections
- vote in a Constitutional referendum or plebiscite
- seek election to parliament, if you are aged 18 years or over and are not dual citizen
- register the birth of your children in another country as an Australian citizen
- Making a promise
At your citizenship ceremony, you will take the Australian citizenship oath in which you promise to remain loyal to Australia and its people and to share and uphold Australia's:
- democratic beliefs
- rights
- liberties
- laws
Australia is a democracy. You can freely elect representatives to run the country and make laws on your behalf. Freedoms for citizens include:
- Freedom of speech and freedom of expression
- You are free to say what you want on any subject, without harming others.
- You must also respect how other Australians think or express them.
- Freedom of association
You are free to join any:
- political party
- trade union
- religious group
- cultural group, or
- social group
- You can refuse to join a group if you do not want to join a group.
- Freedom of religion and secular government
- You enjoy Equality in Australia and no discrimination of gender, race, disability or age.