Australia

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS

Australian citizens enjoy the following rights (subject to certain exceptions):

• entitlement to an Australian passport and to Australian consular protection overseas
• immunity from deportation
• entitlement to vote and stand for public office (dual citizens cannot stand for office in the Federal Parliament unless they have taken all reasonable steps to renounce their foreign citizenship. Most states do allow dual citizens to stand for State Parliaments)
• entitlement to leave Australia and return at any time without requiring a resident return visa
• entitlement to register overseas born children as Australian citizens by descent (subject to some additional criteria)
• entitlement to seek employment by the Federal (Commonwealth) Government, where citizenship is normally required.

The following responsibilities are expected of Australian citizens:

• obey the law
• enroll to vote, and vote at all elections (unless there is a reasonable excuse such as a religious objection or illness on polling day)
• serve on a jury, if called upon
• defend Australia, should the need arise.