Australia's government has defined a set of core values that all who call this country home are expected to share. But how well do different Australians — and their political representatives — actually align with them?
The Australian Government formally defines a set of values that underpin national identity, citizenship, and social cohesion. These are articulated through the Australian Values Statement, a document administered by the Department of Home Affairs and required reading for all visa applicants and prospective citizens.
The values are not vague aspirations — they are concrete commitments tied to Australia's democratic and legal traditions, and to its founding promise of a fair go for all. They are divided into several core areas:
Australia is governed by parliamentary democracy. No person — including religious authorities — is above the law. Laws made by elected parliaments take precedence over all other codes.
Freedom of speech, association, and religion are core entitlements. People may hold any faith, or none, and may express views openly without fear of persecution.
Equal treatment regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability. Men and women have equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of public life.
Australians are expected to treat each other with respect across cultural and religious differences, and to tolerate lifestyles and beliefs that differ from their own.
Cultural diversity is considered a national strength. English serves as the shared national language, while cultural backgrounds are respected and valued.
The iconic Australian value of a "fair go" — genuine opportunity regardless of background — paired with compassion for the vulnerable, sits at the heart of Australian national identity.
Australia's formal articulation of national values has evolved significantly over more than a century, from exclusion to inclusion, from assimilation to multiculturalism, and from informal assumption to explicit requirement.
Australia's early national identity was explicitly defined by racial exclusion. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 used dictation tests to limit non-European migration. "Australian values" were implicitly Anglo-Christian and monocultural. The policy was gradually dismantled between 1949 and 1973.
The Whitlam government formally ended racial discrimination in immigration. The Fraser government's Galbally Report (1978) formally adopted multiculturalism as national policy, shifting the frame from assimilation to integration — migrants were encouraged to maintain cultural identity within a shared civic framework.
The Keating and Howard eras saw sharp debates about national identity. Pauline Hanson's maiden speech in 1996 challenged multiculturalism directly. Howard used phrases like "Australian values" to promote social cohesion — and, critics argued, to signal cultural expectations of conformity by migrants.
The Howard government introduced the formal Australian Values Statement, required of all permanent visa applicants. It explicitly listed democratic beliefs, English, the rule of law, and equality as core expectations. Migrants were required to sign a statement committing to these values.
The Australian citizenship test was introduced in 2007, covering Australian values, history, and democratic institutions. The test has been revised several times, with debates about whether it effectively measures genuine values alignment or merely rote knowledge.
Australian values are now actively contested political territory — invoked by all sides to either defend minority rights, limit migration, promote religion in public life, or challenge perceived progressive overreach. The question of whose values define Australia has never been more live.
Far from settled, Australia's official values are a live political battleground. Different parties interpret, emphasise, or challenge them in ways that reflect fundamentally different visions of national identity.
Broadly champions all the official values, with particular emphasis on equality across gender, sexuality, race, and disability. Supports multiculturalism and diversity as strengths. Faces internal tensions over religious freedom versus LGBTQ+ protection.
Supports democratic values and rule of law strongly, but with more emphasis on freedom of speech and religious freedom. Has been more cautious on LGBTQ+ equality (particularly transgender issues) and diversity-driven programs. Promotes English and shared civic identity.
Reflects rural and regional Australia's traditional conservatism. Strong on democratic participation and community solidarity, but more sceptical of urban progressive interpretations of equality and diversity. Traditional gender roles remain more influential in the party's base.
Most progressive on equality, tolerance, and diversity. Supports expanding democratic rights and human rights frameworks. More qualified position on absolute free speech — supports restrictions on hate speech. Wants constitutional recognition of multiculturalism.
Explicitly challenges multicultural and diversity-affirming interpretations of Australian values. Argues that mass immigration threatens social cohesion. Strongly opposes LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and sporting contexts. Champions freedom of speech and "traditional" Australian culture as the bedrock of national identity.
The irony noted by some political scientists: the party that most loudly claims to speak for "Australian values" — One Nation — scores the lowest when tested against Australia's own official values framework. See our party ratings page for the full analysis.
This survey translates Australia's official values into 20 concrete statements and asks you to rate your agreement with each on a scale of 0 to 5. It is designed to help you:
Many Australians have never consciously examined whether their personal values match the civic framework they live within.
Your results feed into aggregate data showing how Australians across regions, birthplaces, and political leanings actually score.
See how your score compares to where each major party lands when their published policies are tested against the same framework.
All demographic questions are optional. No personal information is collected. Read our privacy policy.
When each party's published policies are evaluated against Australia's official values framework, the results are sometimes surprising. Here's a quick overview — see the full analysis.