Living in Australia a Guide for Muslims New to Australia Civics and Legal Matters
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LIVING IN AustraliaA GUIDE FOR MUSLIMS NEW TO AUSTRALIA Abdullah Saeed and Patricia Prentice LIVING IN AustraliaA GUIDE FOR MUSLIMS NEW TO AUSTRALIA Abdullah Saeed and Patricia Prentice National Centre for Contemporary Islamic Studies The University of Melbourne Published by the National Centre for Contemporary Islamic Studies, The University of Melbourne © 2020 National Centre for Contemporary Islamic Studies ISBN 978 0 9876188 3 2 (print) ISBN 978 0 9876188 4 9 (ebook) This project is funded by the Department of Home Affairs Fostering Integration Grants program. The grants support new initiatives by not-for-profit organisations that will help migrants better integrate into Australian life through employment and community participation. Disclaimer The information contained in this resource is intended for general reference only. Although the authors have been as diligent as possible in compiling the information contained therein and have checked and attempted to ensure its accuracy at the time of publication, the variability of some aspects of the subject matter means that information may, with the passage of time, become outdated. Accordingly, no warranty is given as to the completeness or accuracy of the information presented. Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................. vii Introduction .......................................................................... 1 PART 1 AUSTRALIA: AND BASIC FIGURESFACTS5 History .............................................................................. 6 Indigenous Australians ............................................................. 6 Europeans in Australia ............................................................. 7 Muslim settlement in Australia ..................................................... 9 Population .......................................................................... 12 Political system .................................................................... 12 Legal system ....................................................................... 14 Culture ............................................................................. 15 PART 2 AUSTRALIAN VALUES AND 17 ISLAMIC TRADITION Core values ......................................................................... 19 Commitment to the rule of law ................................................... 19 Equality before the law ............................................................ 19 Freedom .......................................................................... 21 Democracy ....................................................................... 22 Non-discrimination ............................................................... 23 Human dignity .................................................................... 24 Mutual respect .................................................................... 24 Fair play .......................................................................... 25 Community service and pursuit of the public good ................................ 26 Freedom of religion ............................................................... 28 Compassion ...................................................................... 29 Tolerance and respect for diversity ................................................ 30 iii Other important Australian values ............................................... 31 Mateship .......................................................................... 31 Peacefulness ...................................................................... 32 Freedom of speech ............................................................... 33 Freedom of association ........................................................... 35 Participation in national life ....................................................... 35 Citizenship and loyalty to Australia and its people ................................. 36 PART 3 COMMON ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY MUSLIM MIGRANTS AUSTRALIA IN 39 Citizenship and voting ............................................................. 40 Becoming an Australian citizen .................................................... 40 Voting in an election .............................................................. 41 Being loyal to Australia and Islam .................................................. 43 Working and money ............................................................... 44 Negotiating time for Friday (Jumʿa) prayers with an employer .................... 44 Finding places to pray when out ................................................... 45 Working in a mixed workplace environment ....................................... 46 Wearing the hijab to work ......................................................... 47 Working in a place that sells alcohol or bacon or other Islamically prohibited foods or products ........................................... 48 Opening a savings account that accrues interest .................................. 49 Taking out a home loan that attracts interest ...................................... 49 Taking out an insurance policy .................................................... 51 Social life, eating and drinking .................................................... 52 Interacting with non-Muslims and having non-Muslim friends ...................... 52 Wishing Christians a merry Christmas ............................................. 53 Finding halal food when eating out ................................................ 55 Eating at a local cafe or restaurant where non-halal food is served ................. 55 Eating supermarket meat ......................................................... 57 iv Living in Australia A Guide for Muslims New to Australia Civics and legal matters ........................................................... 58 Participating in the armed forces .................................................. 58 Participating in the police force ................................................... 58 Freedom of religion ............................................................... 60 Applying Islamic law (Shariʿa) in Australia ......................................... 60 Discrimination ..................................................................... 61 Racial and religious discrimination ................................................. 61 Gender discrimination ............................................................ 62 Sexual harassment ................................................................ 64 Making a complaint about discrimination .......................................... 64 Marriage and family ............................................................... 66 Getting married ................................................................... 66 Islamic and civil marriages ......................................................... 66 Registering children born in Australia .............................................. 67 Getting relationship help .......................................................... 69 Divorce and separation ........................................................... 69 Polygyny .......................................................................... 71 Old age, death and inheritance ................................................... 71 Residential aged care ............................................................. 71 Death ............................................................................. 72 Inheritance ....................................................................... 73 Criminal justice issues ............................................................. 73 Summary offences ................................................................ 73 Serious crimes and deportation ................................................... 74 Standing or bowing before a judge in court ....................................... 74 Domestic and family violence ..................................................... 76 Forced and child marriages ....................................................... 77 Female genital mutilation ......................................................... 80 Terrorism ......................................................................... 81 v PART 4 USEFUL PRACTICAL INFORMATION MIGRANTSFOR NEW 85 Government services .............................................................. 86 State Islamic councils ............................................................. 86 Settlement support and resources ............................................... 87 Australian visas .................................................................... 88 Government ........................................................................ 89 Structure of government ......................................................... 89 Registering to vote ................................................................ 89 Police and national security agencies ............................................ 90 Types of police .................................................................... 90 Dealing with the police or national security organisations .......................... 91 Your rights ........................................................................ 91 Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ...................................... 92 The justice system ................................................................. 93 Work and social security .........................................................