What is peacefulness as an Australian value?
Answer
Resolving disputes through law and dialogue, not violence
Explanation
Peacefulness as an Australian value is the commitment to resolving disagreements without violence, supporting peaceful protest and debate, and avoiding aggressive or intimidating conduct in public and private life. It is reflected in criminal laws against assault and threats, in expectations of civil discourse, in the country's foreign policy, and in everyday social conventions.
Domestic peacefulness is supported by criminal law. Each state's Crimes Act or equivalent criminalises assault, threats, stalking, and weapons offences. Family violence laws in each state allow for intervention orders that limit contact and remove the offender from the home in serious cases. Hate crime laws cover violence motivated by race, religion, sexuality, or disability. Public order offences address conduct that disturbs the peace.
Australia's foreign policy reflects a preference for peaceful resolution. Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Charter, contributes to UN peacekeeping operations (with more than 65,000 Australians deployed in 65 operations since 1947), and supports the rules-based international order. Australia has not been invaded since the Second World War, has not declared war on another country since 1942, and has participated in armed conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) as part of multilateral coalitions rather than independently. The AUKUS partnership, the ANZUS treaty, and Pacific regional diplomacy all aim to maintain regional peace and stability.
Peaceful conduct is also a strong social expectation. The 2023 Voice referendum, despite producing intense national debate, produced no significant violence on either side. Major political protests including the 1970 Vietnam moratoriums, the 1988 Bicentenary March, the 2000 Walk for Reconciliation, the 2003 Iraq War protests, the 2019 climate strikes, and the 2023 Voice campaigns have generally been peaceful, even when emotional. Australia's broadly peaceful public culture is one reason the country ranks consistently in the top 20 of the Global Peace Index.
Why this matters for your test
Peacefulness is one of the values expressly named in Australian citizenship materials, and recognising the legal framework and the cultural expectation helps new citizens contribute to a stable society.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (2024)
