| RIGHTS VS RESPONSIBILITIES |
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According to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship those who successfully obtain Australian citizenship have certain “responsibilities and privileges”. These responsibilities and privileges are clearly laid out on the department’s website. Below are these five identified responsibilities expected from all Australians; and those privileges given to those who meet these responsibilities of citizenship. Responsibilities• obey Australia's laws • enrol on federal and state/territory electoral registers • vote in elections • serve on a jury, if called upon to do so • defend Australia, should the need arise. Privileges: Take note that the word “Rights” does not appear when talking about what an Australian citizen obtains, either by birth in, or by naturalization to this country. In Australia voting is a duty, one of five identified things we “must” do in order to comply with the requirements of citizenship when we are directed to do so. As it is a duty it is something that can be given and taken away at the whim of those with the power to do so. We recently had some supporters of the FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY turned away from the polling booth at which they wanted to vote in order to comply with their citizenship responsibility. As it is duty given it can be a duty removed. Arguments about a “right to vote” fall on deaf ears during such times, because, as can be clearly seen on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website, WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO VOTE. It is a “responsibility”, a “must”, a command. The meaning of “rights”, as most would think are that they are something which is due to anyone by just claim; something which is legally guaranteed by law, something which demands the “must” factor of compliance from those in authority. Citizen rights are something which effectively tip the scales in favour of the individual as opposed to a system which overrides the concerns of the individual without clear reason. As it currently stands in Australia we have no right to vote; we are instead told to vote with no laws broken if someone in authority takies away a person’s responsibility to vote. The latest fiasco with the South Australian elections is one of many reasons why the FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY calls for a legislated Bill of Rights at a Constitutional level to be created. Our power to vote ought not to be viewed as a ‘privilege” which is dependent upon the good graces of a sitting government, which can be removed at whim. Witten by Craig HendryReferences: © 2010 Hendry, C Adelaide, South Australia All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.
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