What are Australian values?
Australian values are the shared principles that guide life in Australia: parliamentary democracy and the rule of law; respect for individual freedom and dignity; freedom of speech, association and religion within the law; equality under the law; equality of opportunity and a fair go; and mutual respect and tolerance. Our Common Bond also connects these principles with contributing to the community, helping to keep society safe and loyalty to Australia.
| Principle | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary democracy | Citizens elect representatives to parliament, and political change happens through elections, discussion and peaceful persuasion. |
| Rule of law | The same law applies to everyone. No person, organisation, religious rule or government official is above it. |
| Individual freedoms | People may speak, associate and follow a religion—or no religion—freely, provided they obey Australian law. |
| Equality under the law | People have equal rights regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race or national or ethnic origin. |
| Equality of opportunity | A “fair go” means achievement should come from a person’s skills, work and effort, not wealth or background. |
| Mutual respect and tolerance | Respect other people’s freedom, dignity, opinions and choices, even when you disagree with them. |
| Community and loyalty | Contribute where you can, help keep society safe, support people in need and uphold your loyalty to Australia. |
1. Parliamentary democracy and the rule of law
Australia is a parliamentary democracy. Citizens vote for representatives to parliament, and government power comes from the Australian people. Laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, and change should happen through discussion, peaceful persuasion and the democratic process.
All Australians are protected by our laws and legal systems, and Australians recognise the importance of laws in maintaining a peaceful and orderly society. Under the Rule of Law, all Australians are equal in relation to the law and no person or group is above it.
Everybody should obey the law and not break it at any time, or face penalties — and you should follow the law even if no one is watching. Australian laws apply to all people in Australia, regardless of your background or culture.
- In a parliamentary democracy, citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf
- All Australians are equal under the law; no person or group is above it
- You should follow the law even if no one is watching
- Australian laws apply to everyone, regardless of background or culture
2. Freedom of speech, association and religion
People in Australia should be able to express their ideas freely, so long as it is within the law, and can meet, speak, write and protest peacefully — newspapers, television and radio have the same freedom. It is never acceptable to promote violence against another person or group (for example because of their culture, ethnicity, religion or background), and it is illegal to make false allegations or encourage others to break the law.
Freedom of association means people are free to join or leave any legal group voluntarily and cannot be compelled to join one. Freedom of religion means Australia has no official national religion and people are free to follow any religion they choose, with the government treating all citizens equally. Religious laws have no legal status: Australian law must be followed by everyone, even where it differs from religious laws, and practices such as polygamy and forced marriage are against the law.
- Free expression is protected, but promoting violence is never acceptable
- People are free to join or leave any legal group voluntarily
- Australian law prevails over religious law; polygamy and forced marriage are illegal
3. Equality under the law and a 'fair go'
Australian society values the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, race, or national or ethnic origin. People from different backgrounds are neither given preferential treatment nor discriminated against. Men and women have equal rights and equal access to education and employment, can vote, stand for parliament, and are treated equally in courts of law. Under our laws, two people can marry each other, including two men or two women, and divorce is acceptable.
Everyone deserves a 'fair go' and should not be limited by class distinction. What someone achieves should result from their hard work and talents — a person should get a job based on their skills and experience, not their gender, wealth or ethnicity. Many new migrants have become leaders in business, the professions, the arts, public service and sport through their hard work and enterprise.
- All people are equal under the law regardless of gender, race, religion or background
- Men and women have equal rights; same-sex marriage is lawful
- A 'fair go' means success comes from skills and effort, not wealth or background
4. Mutual respect and tolerance
Individuals must respect the freedom and dignity of others, and their opinions and choices. It is against the law to be violent towards another person: violence of any kind, including verbal and physical abuse, is illegal, and Australians believe in peaceful disagreement and the right to be safe and free from violence and intimidation.
Australia values mutual respect and tolerance — listening to others and respecting their views even when they differ from your own. Racism has no place in Australia, including creating or sharing racially offensive material online or making racially abusive comments in public or at a sporting event.
- Respect the freedom, dignity and choices of others
- Violence of any kind, including verbal and physical abuse, is illegal
- Racism — including online — has no place in Australia
5. Community, contribution and loyalty
Citizenship lets you fully participate in the nation's life, and Australians expect everyone to contribute to the community and to try to support themselves and their families when able. Australians value 'mateship' and have a strong tradition of community service and volunteering — helping each other in times of need. Australian society values English as the national language and a unifying element, and applicants for citizenship undertake to make reasonable efforts to learn it if it is not their native language.
Everyone has responsibilities to help keep society safe — for example, reporting a suspected serious crime or child abuse to the authorities. In the citizenship pledge, citizens pledge their loyalty to Australia and its people. Australians may hold dual or multiple citizenship if other countries allow it, but must follow all Australian laws at all times, and our society is based on shared obligations not to undermine Australia's interests and security.
- Australians value 'mateship', volunteering and contributing to the community
- English is valued as the national language and a unifying element of society
- Citizens pledge loyalty to Australia; dual citizens must still obey all Australian laws