Freedom of Religion and Secular Government in Australia
Australia has no official religion, and everyone is free to follow any faith or none. Learn how freedom of religion and secular government work.
Australia is home to people of many faiths — and people of no faith at all. Freedom of religion and a secular government are central to how Australians live together peacefully. These ideas appear in the citizenship test, including in the values questions.
What Is Freedom of Religion?
In Australia, people are free to:
- Follow any religion they choose
- Change their religion
- Have no religion at all
- Practise their religion through worship, festivals, dress and community life
This freedom comes with a responsibility: religious practices must be within the law, and everyone must respect the rights of others to hold different beliefs.
Australia Has No Official Religion
Australia does not have an official national religion. Section 116 of the Australian Constitution says the Commonwealth must not make laws to establish any religion, impose any religious observance, or prohibit the free exercise of any religion. It also says that no religious test can be required to hold a Commonwealth public office.
This is what is meant by a secular government: the government does not favour one religion over another, and religious and government matters are kept separate.
Australian Law Applies to Everyone
One of the most important principles for the citizenship test is that religious laws have no legal status in Australia. Everyone must obey Australian laws, which are made by Parliament. Where a religious or cultural practice conflicts with Australian law, Australian law applies. For example:
- Marriage must be freely consented to by both people, and it is illegal to be married to more than one person at the same time
- Violence cannot be justified by religious or cultural beliefs
- Disputes are settled by Australian courts under Australian law
Australia's Religious Heritage and Diversity
Australia's heritage includes a strong Christian tradition, reflected in public holidays like Christmas and Easter. At the same time, Australia is religiously diverse. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism and many other faiths are practised freely, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own spiritual beliefs connected to land and culture. A growing number of Australians say they have no religion.
For many Vietnamese Australians, Buddhist temples and Catholic parishes have been important community centres since the 1970s — a good example of how faith communities contribute to Australian life.
Freedom of Religion in Practice
- At a citizenship ceremony, you can choose a version of the pledge with or without a reference to God
- In court, you can take a religious oath or a non-religious affirmation
- It is unlawful in many situations to discriminate against someone because of their religion
How This Appears in the Test
A test question might ask whether Australia has an official religion (No), or whether religious laws override Australian laws (No — Australian laws apply to everyone). The correct answer will reflect both freedom of belief and the supremacy of Australian law.
Practise Values Questions
Values questions must all be answered correctly. CitiZen AU's Australian values category includes questions on freedom of religion and the rule of law, with explanations in English and Vietnamese so there is no confusion on test day.