Mutual respect and tolerance
Australian citizenship test study notes, summarised from page 37 of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet the test is based on.
This is an Australian values topic. Every test includes 5 values questions, and you must get all 5 right to pass.
- Respect others’ freedom, dignity, opinions and choices. Violence of any kind, including verbal and physical abuse, is illegal. Australians believe in peaceful disagreement.
- The age of sexual consent is 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory (e.g. a 20-year-old man with a 15-year-old girl is illegal everywhere).
- Support the lawful actions of police and obey a lawful police request.
- Mutual respect means listening to others and respecting views different from your own; be tolerant when you disagree.
- Racism has no place in Australia — including racially offensive material online and racist abuse in public or at sporting events. Racism can be reported to the police or the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Our Common Bond, p. 37
Sample practice questions
Try these, then check your answer. They’re our practice questions, not the real test questions.
1. What is the age of sexual consent in Australia?
- 15 or 16, depending on the state or territory
- 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory
- 18 in each Australian state and territory
Show answer
Answer: B. 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory
The age of sexual consent is 16 or 17 depending on which state or territory you reside in.
Our Common Bond, p. 37
2. What do mutual respect and tolerance mean?
- Agreeing with others and keeping your own views private to avoid conflict
- Respecting the views of others, as long as they are the same as your own
- Listening to others and respecting their views, even when different from your own
Show answer
Answer: C. Listening to others and respecting their views, even when different from your own
Mutual respect means listening to others and respecting their views and opinions, even when they are different from your own.
Our Common Bond, p. 37
3. In Australia, everyone has the right to be…
- safe and free from violence and intimidation
- given a home and a job by the government
- free from any criticism of their opinions
Show answer
Answer: A. safe and free from violence and intimidation
Australians believe in the right to be safe and free from violence and intimidation.
Our Common Bond, p. 37
Practise all 9 questions on this topic