A Tougher Path to Citizenship: Should Australia Follow the U.S. with a Rigorous Test? By Paul Walker
The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. citizenship test has sparked heated debate, with critics like the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) arguing that its increased difficulty and complexity, coupled with stricter social media scrutiny and "good moral character" requirements, create unnecessary barriers to naturalisation. The test's longer format, subjective historical questions, and multiple-answer structure, alongside tightened disability exemptions and neighbourhood investigations, are seen by some as exclusionary measures designed to deter rather than welcome new citizens. NPNA's Executive Director, Nicole Melaku, has called these changes "deliberate and systemic," arguing they unfairly penalise applicants based on literacy, financial resources, or subjective interpretations of American history.
This controversy raises a provocative question for Australia, a nation grappling with its own immigration challenges: should it adopt a similarly rigorous citizenship test to ensure only those truly committed to Australian values and history become citizens? As migration flows increase, particularly in the context of global displacement and economic migration, a tougher test could theoretically filter for individuals who align with Australia's cultural, historical, and civic principles. Below, I explore this idea by outlining a hypothetical set of difficult questions that migrants seeking Australian citizenship might be required to answer, designed to test deep knowledge of the nation's history, governance, and cultural ethos.
Australia's current citizenship test, administered by the Department of Home Affairs, requires applicants to demonstrate basic English proficiency and knowledge of Australian history, culture, and democratic principles. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, with a pass mark of 75%, drawn from the resource Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. While effective for ensuring a baseline understanding, critics argue it's too simplistic, failing to probe deeper commitment to Australian values or awareness of the nation's complex history. A more challenging test, modelled on the U.S.'s new approach, could ensure that new citizens are not only familiar with Australia but deeply invested in its past, present, and future.
Proponents of a tougher test argue it could deter opportunistic migration, where individuals seek citizenship for economic benefits without intending to integrate. With nearly 3.4 million foreign-born individuals claiming welfare benefits in the UK (as reported by the Centre for Migration Control), Australia faces similar concerns about migration straining public resources. A rigorous test could prioritise applicants who contribute positively to society, aligning with the U.S.'s emphasis on "good moral character" and community contributions.
To illustrate what a more challenging test might look like, below are ten hypothetical questions designed to test in-depth knowledge of Australian history, governance, culture, and values. These questions go beyond rote memorisation, requiring critical thinking, historical nuance, and cultural awareness, qualities that could reflect a deep commitment to Australia.
Historical Context: Explain the significance of the 1967 Referendum in the context of Indigenous Australian rights, including the specific constitutional changes it enabled and its long-term impact on reconciliation efforts. (Answer requires understanding the referendum's role in allowing the Commonwealth to make laws for Indigenous people and include them in the census, as well as its symbolic importance in advancing Indigenous rights.)
1.Governance: Describe the division of powers between the Commonwealth and state governments under the Australian Constitution, providing at least three examples of exclusive Commonwealth powers and three examples of concurrent powers. (Tests knowledge of federalism and the Constitution's structure, e.g., exclusive powers like defence and concurrent powers like taxation.)
2.Cultural Nuance: Discuss the concept of "mateship" in Australian culture, its historical origins, and how it has been debated in relation to gender and inclusivity in modern Australia. (Requires understanding a key cultural value, its roots in ANZAC traditions, and contemporary critiques of its gendered connotations.)
3.Indigenous History: Name three pre-colonial Indigenous nations or language groups, their approximate geographic regions, and one cultural practice unique to each. (Tests knowledge of Australia's diverse Indigenous heritage, e.g., the Yolngu of Arnhem Land and their songline traditions.)
4.Legal System: Explain the significance of the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) decision (1992) and its impact on native title law, including the key legal principle it overturned. (Requires understanding the rejection of terra nullius and the establishment of native title rights.)
5.Political History: Analyse the causes and consequences of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, including the roles of the Governor-General, Prime Minister, and Senate. (Tests knowledge of a pivotal political event involving Gough Whitlam's dismissal by Sir John Kerr.)
6.Environmental Policy: Discuss Australia's obligations under the Paris Agreement (2015) and how they balance economic interests, such as the mining industry, with climate change commitments. (Requires understanding global treaties and domestic policy tensions.)
7.Civic Values: Define "fair go" as a core Australian value and provide two historical or contemporary examples where this principle was challenged or upheld in Australian society. (Tests understanding of a key cultural ethos and its application, e.g., in refugee policy debates.)
8.Colonial Legacy: Explain the impact of the White Australia Policy on immigration patterns from 1901 to the 1970s, and how its dismantling reshaped modern Australian multiculturalism. (Requires knowledge of a controversial historical policy and its long-term effects.)
9.Geopolitical Role: Describe Australia's role in the AUKUS pact and how it reflects the nation's strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. (Tests awareness of contemporary foreign policy and defense alliances.)
These questions are deliberately rigorous, requiring not just factual recall but critical analysis and historical context. They aim to ensure that applicants understand Australia's complex past, its triumphs, such as the 1967 Referendum, as well as its current global role and cultural values. However, such a test would likely face criticism similar to that levelled at the U.S. version. Requiring nuanced essays or detailed responses could exclude applicants with limited English proficiency, lower education levels, or fewer resources to study, even if they are committed to Australia's values. Well, they need to become more committed and develop better English language skills!
Moreover, additional measures like social media scrutiny or "good moral character" assessments, as implemented in the U.S., could further complicate the process. In Australia, where public debate already rages over migration's impact on welfare (e.g., the 3.4 million foreign-born claimants in the UK as a cautionary tale), such measures might be seen as a way to prioritise "deserving" migrants. There is nothing wrong with that!
A tougher test could strengthen national identity by ensuring new citizens are deeply engaged with Australia's history and values. Australia could also adopt transparent criteria for "good moral character" to avoid subjective bias, ensuring the process rewards genuine integration.
The U.S.'s new citizenship test highlights the tension between welcoming migrants and ensuring they align with national values. For Australia, a tougher test could address concerns about integration and welfare dependency, ensuring that new citizens are not just residents but active contributors to the nation's fabric. Australia has been a soft touch sucker nation for immigration for too many decades; time to get some national pride back!
https://www.amren.com/news/2025/10/new-us-citizenship-test-proving-difficult-for-immigrants/