Have Australians always had equal rights as citizens?
92684
No, the very first Australians were prisoners.
746816
it does with restriction..well in malaysia..the federal constitution givel this freedoms..freedom of speech..own property..education..and so on...but..its all withing the words \n" No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law."..\n\nor\n\nAll persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.\n\n(2) Except as expressly authorised by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.\n\nso democracy stands up..only to a certain limit...well be a positivist..look at the bright site.."anything that is let too loose will not bring any good rite?..there should be somekind of restriction to make it right"..people should have their say in a government..but it depends on what kinda say they going to have?..
357902
I have a best friend in Sydney, a true "Australian", born and raised there...and he's the most wonderful person I know!  I flew over there to visit, about 7 years ago...and everywhere I went, I met the most awesome people!  Australia was originally a penal colony, a place where England/Great Britain sent their convicts.  The Australians are a people founded on that, and many spend years tracing their roots, hoping to find that one of their ancestors WAS a convict.  They've taken that penal colony, and made it into a really great country, with the openess and democracy of American combined with the strength, fortitude and resolve of the Brits.  They're a strong, proud people, and if you ever get the chance to visit....you'll be like me, and not want to go home!  They share a dual-citizenship status with America, unlike Britain, who doesn't.  Every year, there are around 500 Americans who become Australian citizens and spend the rest of their lives there.  The country is beautiful, and you can be in the mountains one minute, and an hour later, be lazing on the beach!  They embrace the Aborigine culture, and you see it wherever you go in artwork, in names of cities, towns, streets, etc. (Wollongong, Parrametta, Coolangotta).  Their towns and cities and highways are clean, trash-free, and while there, I went through all areas of Sydney, and saw NO slums, NO graffiti, NO homeless, NO crime.  One of the friendliest nations in the world, and well worth the money spent to visit, if you get the chance!  And my having a southern accent (from Georgia in the US) seemed to be so cool to them! :)
111779
In legal sense you have a right in the country in which you are a citizen. Also your birth country could give you some special rights and privileges.\n\nIn moral sense you are the one to decide your nationality. You can call yourself as belonging to either of the place you've mentioned. It all depends on your liking of a particular place.
745171
Are you joking?\n\nSeriously the aussie culture has been under attack in recent years thanks majorly to immigration laws, I think that every true blue aussie has a right to defend their culture and way of life in general. I think you will find that as a majority in this country we are slowly becoming a siling minority to other cultures.\n\nI think in general we embrace difference and diversity amongst our community but within reason, we will take the good aspect (i.e. what you bring that will contribute to the great good of our communities) but will defend our way of life against any bad that any other culture brings.\n\nI dont want you to think that i a racist, because I am certainly not, but do wish that people coming to our country should leave all their "bad" at the front door before they come in. Forget your ethnic rivalries, forget your wars and your bloody past, your vengful way of life and come and join into our way of life, one that is considered by all as a happy go lucky one. \n\nThat is my view and I dont mean to insight violence or anything of the kind i just want everyone and everything to be taken as face value and not to be judged with preconcieved ethnic notions from lets face it another life.
220974
they haven't caused problems and have you ever heard of equal right?
231045
I like that it happened. It showed great unity in australian-europeans taking a stance against non white immigration to their country. Apparently, they have more balls than emasculated US citizens.
549970
I do not know the laws in Australia but I don't believe they differ to much from the US. In the US you still qualify as a bigot.
1132005
Well it would help to know about your citizenship status and what country you are currently residing in. \nBut looking into the immigration laws and regulations of australia can help.
461359
Australia has an obligation under the 1967? (i think) UN Warsaw Human Rights agreement to allow asylum seekers into the country and thoroughly investigate their individual circumstances before deciding on their refugee status.  The feelings of the Indonesian people and / or Government should not stand in the way of our International (and humanitarian!) obligations.
961725
I Think It's One Human For Every 18 Kangaroo's\n\n\n\n\nAustralia's refugee admissions of about 12,000 per year \nare in addition to the normal immigration program.\n \nIn recent years, the government has given priority \nto refugees from the Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Africa. \nIn recent years, refugees from Indochina, South America, \nand today, the former Yugoslavia \nhave comprised the largest single element \nin Australia's refugee program.\n\nEmigration now also plays a role \nin changing Australian demographics. \n\nThe term, Australian diaspora, \nrefers to the 850,000 Australian citizens \nwho today live outside Australia. \nThis phenomenon is relatively new in Australia's history, estimated as having occurred over the last 40 years. \nAwareness of this demographic \n(almost 5% of the Australian population) \nis growing and supported by government initiatives.\n\nAlthough Australia has scarcely more than \ntwo persons per square kilometer of total land area, \nthis raw figure is highly misleading: \nmost of the continent is desert or semi-desert \nand of limited agricultural value. \n\nIn consequence, \nAustralia is one of the world's most urbanized countries : \n91% of Australia's population lives in urban areas.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Australia#Population_growth_rate
804455
They have the same rights as any other American
467228
because unlike the united states, they listen to their citizens, they dont just let anyone in just because they think they have a right to work there or get special treatment like they do in the states !! australia has the balls that the united states dont have !!!
433641
Citizens. After all, it didn't become "one nation under god" until the 50's.
620925
Obviously, the Australian govt would adhere to the rule of law. Anyway laws are made and can be made by the govt of the day.\n\nChina's govt follow a rule of law, their own! Why don't you write about them, see how far you get before you get arrested for endangering 'national security'.
205004
If by equal rights you mean one group had a chance to be discriminated against, now the other group has that same chance, then sure.  If you mean the same rights to all people regardless of race, color or creed, then no.
534783
Really don't understand your question! However in Australia \nthe Federal Government has a majority in both houses. This means that it can pass all the laws it wants to. Is this what you mean?\n\nI don't know if this is the case with any other democratic country!