Accountant's Odyssey

Ok so well lately I discovered that I am now eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship. Having lived, studied and paid taxes here in Australia it would make total sense to take that next fateful step. However for personal reasons I will not do so.

That got me thinking though, what really does it mean to be a citizen of a country anyway?

- Is it a purely legal thing evidenced only by a Birth/Citizenship Certificate?

- Is it a state of mind where a person identifies with a particular society?

- Is it a mix of both? Does it depend?

The preamble of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) states:

“The Parliament recognises that Australian citizenship represents full and formal membership of the community of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Australian citizenship is a common bond, involving reciprocal rights and obligations, uniting all Australians, while respecting their diversity.”

To add to this definition, the Australian Government introduced an Australian Citizenship Test in 2007 as part of the Citizenship application process. To be honest I don’t see any benefit in this test. Just seems like the Government trying to legislate a set of “values” that simply can’t be learnt in a 20 question multiple choice test. How many Australians actually know who the first Australian Prime Minister was? Or the process in which a bill introduced into Federal Parliament becomes law?

I like living here but personally the only reason I would apply for Australian Citizenship is for the passport. I barely play or watch any sport (I do watch the State of Origin), don’t drink, am not an outdoors person , don’t get the Aussie sense of humour and don’t think “mateship” is as important part of my life. I’m more than happy to follow the laws of this country, pay my taxes and fulfil any other formal obligations but I do not feel compelled to live my life the “Australian way”. Nor do I feel I have “a common bond” or “unity” with all other Australians (contrary to what the Government or others might want me to think).

This is my very first .gif animation, thanks to a tutorial I was able to get this done pretty much effortlessly.