Australian

Around Australia today as the snags sizzle and the beers flow cold and bitter, people will also be becoming Australian citizens.

The Government says a bunch of boring questions plus a bit of pomp and ceremony allow someone to declare ‘I am Australian’. Which is a great thing, don’t get us wrong. We just thought the questions are probably due for a revamp. So here’s our Alternative Australian Citizenship Test.

Answers are in! Yet-to-be-confirmed prize at this stage goes to S.L because he looks like he needs some cheering up!

Continue reading "How Australian are you? Take our test…" »

The ugly Australian is alive and well and holidaying in South East Asia.

Right now he or she is probably bashing someone, taking drugs, or stealing stuff. 

Of course, it’s never their fault. It’s always the “harsh” or “draconian” laws of the country in which the crime is committed, which is inevitably described as “primitive”.

Continue reading "Meet the Ugly Australian" »

On 10 May, that little sliver of land, Israel, about one third the size of Tasmania but burdened with decades of unremitting attacks on its very legitimacy and existence, celebrates her 63rd year of independence. There are good reasons why many Australians should celebrate that.

We could talk about the historical bond between our two nations dating back to the ANZACS. A bond that is underpinned by our shared commitment to freedom and democracy, and respect for women’s rights, gays, minorities and the rule of law. We could celebrate that we are both thriving multicultural states that have successfully absorbed and integrated millions of refugees and immigrants from around the world.

And it wouldn’t hurt to reflect on the irony that Israel’s Arab citizens enjoy more rights, freedoms and liberties than do their neighbours in any number of Middle East nations - where they are currently dying while fighting for these very same rights and privileges.

Continue reading "Israel: Celebrating 63 years of independence" »

I emigrated here in 1987. As many as one million Irish had made the same trip before me and quite a few have since. Among them were convicts and radicals, priests and judges, nurses and nuns, saints and scholars.

I became a citizen in June, 1994, alongside 90 other Irish expats at the Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney – a building that how houses a beautiful monument to the Great Irish Famine. It was an emotional day. The significance of embracing a new citizenship was not lost on any of us. Irish and Australian songs were played and sung.

The Department of Immigration wondered why so many Irish had suddenly decided that they would become Australian citizens. It was not an impulse move. The Irish had waited patiently for Australia to change. Weeks earlier, the Labor government had gotten rid of a certain oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, the English monarch. Now, almost 20 years later, we are waiting for Australia to change again.

Continue reading "It’s St Paddy’s Day: Bring on the republic!" »