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The chapter then outlines support reported in consultation and opinion polling, and surveys overseas citizenship testing models in countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & 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announced for the citizenship test introduction?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"On 11 December 2006, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a test for certain applicants for Australian citizenship.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What questions were addressed in the discussion paper during the 2006 consultation?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The discussion paper sought views on whether Australia should introduce a formal citizenship test, how important knowledge of Australia is, what level of English is required, and how important demonstrated commitment to Australia’s way of life and values is.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Which countries are discussed as examples of formal citizenship testing arrangements?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The chapter notes arrangements in countries including Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and South Korea, and discusses Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the 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outlines the main provisions of the Bill  \nBackground  \n2.2 On 11 December 2006, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a test for certain applicants for Australian citizenship. This announcement followed a consultation process conducted by the then Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (now the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (the Department)) .  \n2.3 That consultation process began on 17 September 2006, when the Australian Government released a discussion paper entitled Australian Citizenship: Much more than a ceremony (the discussion paper). The discussion paper sought the Australian community's views on the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test. Among other matters, the discussion paper sought comment on four key questions:  \n1. Should Australia introduce a formal citizenship test?  \n2. How important is knowledge of Australia for Australian citizenship?  \n3. What level of English is required to participate as an Australian citizen?  \n4. How important is a demonstrated commitment to Australia’s way of life and values for those intending to settle permanently in Australia or spend a significant period of time in Australia? 1  \n2.4 The consultation period ran for two months, closing on 17 November 2006. In total 1644 written responses to the discussion paper were received, with 1486 from individuals and 158 from organisations. A series of face to face consultations were also held in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin and Adelaide. These consultations were reportedly attended by some 129 representatives from a range of government, business and community groups.2  \n2.5 The Summary Report on the Outcomes of the Public Consultation on the Merits of Introducing a Formal Citizenship Test (Summary Report) reported that there was overall support for the introduction of a formal citizenship test, with 60% of  \n1 Australian Government, Australian Citizenship: Much more than a ceremony Discussion Paper, September 2006, p. 14. Available at: [http://www.citizenship.gov.au/news/citizenship](http://www.citizenship.gov.au/news/citizenship)test/DIMA_Citizenship_Discussion_Paper.pdf (accessed 19 June 2007) .  \n2 Australian Government, Summary Report on the Outcomes of the Public Consultation on the Merits of Introducing a Formal Citizenship Test, Available at:  \n[http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/responses/citizenship](http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/responses/citizenship)  \ntest/summary_report_citizen_test_paper.pdf, p. 1 (accessed 19 June 2007) .  \nrespondents supporting a test.3 In addition, an opinion poll reported in The Australian newspaper on 1 January 2007, found that 85 percent of respondents were in favour of the knowledge of English being a requirement to become an Australian citizen.4 Another poll conducted in September 2006 found that 77 percent of respondents favoured a formal citizenship test.5  \nOverseas examples  \n2.6 As noted in the Department's discussion paper, many other countries already have formal testing arrangements for citizenship, including Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and South Korea. Some of these have been in place for some time – for example, Canada has had written testing arrangements since 1994, and the United States' arrangement was introduced in the late 1980s.6  \n2.7 The four countries considered in detail in the discussion paper (Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) test for knowledge and for language skills. The discussion paper identified ten 'themes' on which applicants for citizenship are tested for knowledge. The themes include rights and responsibilities of citizenship; the legal system; equality of men and women; and values of the society.7 Written and oral tests are used to assess competence in the national language, but, except in the United S","cbCaifdO44WAc43e","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifdO44WAc43e","pdf",31760,"English","# Chapter 2 Overview of the Bill\n## Background\n## Overseas examples","[{\"question\":\"When was the Australian Government announced for the citizenship test introduction?\",\"answer\":\"On 11 December 2006, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a test for certain applicants for Australian citizenship.\"},{\"question\":\"What questions were addressed in the discussion paper during the 2006 consultation?\",\"answer\":\"The discussion paper sought views on whether Australia should introduce a formal citizenship test, how important knowledge of Australia is, what level of English is required, and how important demonstrated commitment to Australia’s way of life and values is.\"},{\"question\":\"Which countries are discussed as examples of formal citizenship testing arrangements?\",\"answer\":\"The chapter notes arrangements in countries including Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and South Korea, and discusses Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States in more detail.\"}]","CHAPTER 2 - Overview of the Bill - Background and Overseas Examples | PDF",15]