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| Down Under |
| New Australian Citizens 'must speak English' |
| 2006-04-27 |
| THE Federal Government is seriously considering making fluency in English a requirement for becoming an Australian. Parliamentary secretary Andrew Robb last night said he was examining prospects for a compulsory citizenship test for migrants. And Mr Robb wants Islamic religious leaders to give their sermons in English and train home-grown imams. Mr Robb, a fast-rising MP with junior responsibilities in immigration and multiculturalism, said studies had shown knowledge of English was the strongest determinant in getting a good job. "People have raised that because a functional level of English is fundamental to quick and effective integration, it should be a formal requirement for citizenship," he told the Sydney Institute. Another requirement could be a "general understanding" of Australian values, customs, systems, laws and history". Mr Robb said smoother integration would be in both a migrant's and the community's interests. "For this reason, I am prepared to have a serious look, over the next couple of months, at the merits of introducing a compulsory citizenship test," he said. "As a nation we have a proud history of moulding a dynamic, stable and strong community from a diversity of cultures and long-standing Australian values. "The twin challenges of global terrorism and the ageing population requires us to surpass this effort and become even more skilled at integrating an increasingly diverse population." Early last century language tests were used to keep out migrants who were not Anglo-Celtic, and stories have spread of unwanted applicants being tested in Latin if they spoke English. Last night Mr Robb said that if new citizens were to integrate quickly and effectively, and realise their ambitions, it was essential "that they learn the national language of English". They also had to "learn something about our history and heritage and make a commitment to" common values. Mr Robb said many young Muslim Australians he had talked to felt disconnected from their own community, as well as from mainstream Australia. He said leaders of Australia's 300,000 Muslims - 120,000 of whom were born here - had to make their religion relevant to youth. "It means recognising, for example, that many young Australian Muslims only speak English," he said. "So, religious leaders will have to deliver much or all of their sermons in English. This means training home-grown imams in Australia." Mr Robb said terror attacks overseas had unfairly stigmatised Australian Muslims and, "we've got to deal with it and manage it". "To this end, much can be gained by seeking to put ourselves in one another's shoes," he said. "This means, for Muslim Australians, putting themselves in the shoes of the rest of the Australian community, most of whom are filled with anxiety and uncertainty about how to deal with the reality of random terrorist acts, ostensibly in the name of Islam." Mr Robb urged Muslims to take the lead and assume "primary responsibility" for these integration efforts. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 I wonder if Mr. Robb could force writers and editors to make paragraphs more than one freakin' sentence long! |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2006-04-27 18:47 |
| #5 Yes, this class distinction by now should be antique. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-27 17:10 |
| #4 Sounds like Enry Iggings in Why Can't the English... from My Fair Lady. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-27 16:46 |
| #3 I can't remember the musical, but there was some line about English speakers in America: "They haven't spoken it for years." ;-) |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-27 15:22 |
| #2 Yesssssss.....finally a democracy steps up to say "goodbye" to supermarket signs in 20 languages and the attendant drag on businesses, etc... PC causes. |
| Posted by: OyVey1 2006-04-27 14:17 |
| #1 that bit about latin is bs. But as to compulsory English: FANTASTIC bring it ON!! Do any Rantburgers want to move to Australia? It's a great country to live in. |
| Posted by: anon1 2006-04-27 12:28 |