Democracy in Action Australia Is a Democracy
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Unit 1 Democracy and law in action Democracy in action Australia is a democracy. In a democracy, each citizen has an equal right to influence the political decisions that affect their society. This means that each person may express their opinions to help decide how the society is governed. In a nation of over 24 million people, making sure everyone is heard can be quite tricky. For this reason, Australia has a voting system that allows us to elect politicians or political parties to represent us at local, state and national levels. This system of government, as well as our freedoms and responsibilities as citizens, is what defines democracy in Australia. chapter Source 1 Australia has a representative democracy in which people vote for a political 15party or politician that best reflects their opinions on most political issues. 15A 15B DRAFT What are the freedoms and What does it mean to be an responsibilities of citizens in Australian citizen? Australia’s democracy? 1 What do you think are the three most important values that Australians have? 1 Why do you think it is important to be able to express your political opinion? 2 Why do you think the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is such an important 2 What are some of the ways in which people can part of our national identity? express their opinion? 364 oxford big ideas humanities and social sciences 8 western australian curriculum chapter 15 democracy in action 365 15A What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens in Australia’s democracy? 15.1 The freedoms of Australian citizens Australia has long been considered by many as the lucky country. This is largely because of our high living standards and financial opportunities, but it also has much to do with the freedom with which people can live their lives in Australia. Freedom allows people to act and express themselves in whatever way they feel, so long as it does not infringe Source 3 Students from different religions participate in a multi-faith day. upon the rights of others. Freedom of religion terrorism’ laws in Australia which prevent people Freedom of speech from associating with organisations suspected of Australia is a multicultural society without an official being terror groups. Unfortunately, the wording of A fundamental need of any democracy to function Source 1 The French philosopher Voltaire is known for religion. Australians are free to practice their many these laws is not very specific and the definition is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech allows supporting freedom on speech and religion. He has been quoted different faiths or, to practice no religion at all. It is of ‘terrorism’ is vague – leaving much of the a person to actively participate in Australia’s as saying, ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the important to remember that the rules of any given interpretation and enforcement of this law up to the democracy by voicing their opinions publicly about death your right to say it’. It is now thought that Voltaire didn’t say these words, that they were, instead, said about him. religion cannot override Australian laws. people in charge. any topic within the bounds of the law. It is because of this freedom that our citizens can explore new Freedom of assembly Freedom of movement ways of thinking and make changes that benefit our Check your learning 15.1 society. Interestingly, the Australian Constitution The freedom of assembly allows people to meet in Today, there are twice as many people arriving in does not protect freedom of speech, rather it is a groups for social or political purposes. A group of Australia as there are leaving the country. Australia Remember and understand privilege encouraged by the culture of our society. people can come together to express their opinions in is considered by many as a land of opportunity 1 Why do you think freedom is so important to A person can make any honest comment that is not a protest as long as it does not turn violent or break but does not restrict those who wish to seek participating in a democratic society? intended to harm others. There are laws, however, laws such as trespassing. The ability to assemble and opportunities elsewhere. A citizen can travel freely 2 Explain how the bounds of the law can limit our to prevent freedom of speech from causing harm protest freely is an important part of democracy in to all states and territories in Australia and also freedoms. to others. People are not allowed to spread lies that Australia because it allows us to influence political leave and re-enter Australia freely. These rights are could damage a person’s reputation. People are also outcomes. not available to people who are not yet Australian Apply and analyse not allowed to spread hatred against others because citizens, who must fulfil certain requirements to be 3 Refer to the caption of Source 1. Why do you of their religious, racial or cultural background. allowed to enter the country. think Voltaire was so passionate about defending In some ways, our freedoms are limited by ‘the the right of someone to express an opinion he Freedom of association bounds of the law’. This basically means that disagrees with? People in Australia are free to join or form any group we cannot break the law in order to express our 4 Explain how each freedom allows us to participate or organisation that they wish to, as long as the main DRAFTfreedom of speech, association, assembly, religion or in Australia’s democracy. activities of the group are legal. This means that a movement. For example, we are allowed to assemble 5 Refer to Source 3. Do you think that it is important person can be a member of a political party, social and protest in Australia, but if that protest becomes for people to be able to practice whatever religion club or workers’ union without fear of persecution. violent and people get hurt, it is no longer a legal they choose in Australia? Why or why not? Like many of our freedoms in Australia, our activity. Another example would be the limitations freedom of association is not officially protected by on association. In recent years, several Australian Evaluate and create the Australian constitution, although culturally it is states have introduced legislation to restrict members 6 Create a poster describing the different freedoms considered a basic right. of criminal gangs, such as bikie gangs, from meeting that Australian citizens have. Your poster should as a group. This legislation was introduced to limit include images that represent each of the Source 2 Protestors in Perth rally against racism. their criminal activity. There are also ‘Counter- freedoms that you describe. 366 oxford big ideas humanities and social sciences 8 western australian curriculum chapter 15 democracy in action 367 15A What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens in Australia’s democracy? Separation of church and state Check your learning 15.2 15.2 Australia as a secular One of the core principles of Australia’s democracy is that it does not allow religious institutions to directly Remember and understand state influence the decisions of government. Australia’s 1 What is ‘secularism’? public health, education and political institutions 2 Which two nations are examples of non-secular are all free from religious connections. This ensures states? that religious beliefs of one group of people are not 3 Describe two benefits of having a separation of While Christianity is the most widespread religion in Hinduism (1.3%) Islam (2.2%) Other religions (1.2%) forced onto Australians of other faiths. It also means church and state. Australian society, the church has never been directly Buddhism (2.5%) that decisions about what is best for today’s society 4 What is the religion of the British monarchy? Roman involved in running the country. This separation of can be made through open discussion. Despite being Catholicism church and state is known as secularism and is a key Not started or a secular nation, religions still influence the beliefs Apply and analyse unclear (9.4%) (25.3%) feature of Australia’s identity as a nation. As a secular and decisions of many Australians who, as both 5 What do you think it might be like to live in a non- nation, Australia is able to encourage a diverse voters and politicians, determine how the nation secular nation of a different religion to your own? society that gives its people the freedom to choose is governed. 6 Look at Source 1. List the faiths in order of highest their religious beliefs. However, while most nations to lowest number of followers in Australia. Anglicanism around the world today adopt a secular system of 7 Look at Source 2. (17.1%) government, some nations, such as Iran and Saudi a Which affiliation has been increasing over the Arabia, base their legal system on religious teachings. years? b What has been happening to the proportion Australia’s many faiths of Christian followers (including Catholic and Other Christian No religion Anglican) over the years? Australia is a multicultural nation that has attracted (22.3%) (18.7%) 8 Look at Source 3. people from all over the world. These people brought a What elements of the flag show Victoria’s with them their different customs, beliefs and Source 3 The flag of Western Australia, like our national flag, identity as part of the British empire? religions. Australia’s commitment to the freedom of reflects our loyalty to the Commonwealth, which has a strong b What part of the flag shows a distinctly religion has allowed people to practise whichever Christian identity.