BulldogBelle
28-01-2007, 07:08 PM
This article taken from the Sunday Herald Sun - another first from the Bulldogs perhaps? If this happens - more members could be on the horizon.
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Footy points in Oz test
The Sunday Herald Sun
Lincoln Wright
January 28, 2007 12:00am
MEMBERSHIP of a football club would gain migrants points on their citizenship test under a proposal being considered by the Federal Government.
The Government is considering the plan, put forward by the AFL's Western Bulldogs, that could entitle a potential citizen to 30 points on the 100-point test.
Bulldogs chief executive officer Campbell Rose said membership in community organisations was a good way to determine if people had become Australians.
He said he had put the idea to Liberal frontbencher Andrew Robb, who was in charge of developing the citizenship test.
"They thought it was quite a good idea," Mr Rose said.
"For people to integrate into our society they have to understand the fabric of our community.
"There are institutions or cultures or things that are part of what we would regard as just normal. Sport is one of those."
He said many migrants, such as the latest from Africa, did not come from countries with Australia's social fabric, including sport.
"For these new arrivals to integrate and become true Australians they need to partake in the things we would assume as part of our everyday life," he said.
Apart from AFL clubs, Mr Rose said membership in organisations such as the Country Fire Authority, volunteer groups, the local bowls club, or meals on wheels could also help gain points.
Mr Rose said that by joining a football club people would learn the principles of how Australians lived.
"To get people integrated takes effort, energy and time -- and that all costs money," he said.
"But when you have clubs that are doing that every day, it all of a sudden takes the burden of responsibility away from the Government."
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Footy points in Oz test
The Sunday Herald Sun
Lincoln Wright
January 28, 2007 12:00am
MEMBERSHIP of a football club would gain migrants points on their citizenship test under a proposal being considered by the Federal Government.
The Government is considering the plan, put forward by the AFL's Western Bulldogs, that could entitle a potential citizen to 30 points on the 100-point test.
Bulldogs chief executive officer Campbell Rose said membership in community organisations was a good way to determine if people had become Australians.
He said he had put the idea to Liberal frontbencher Andrew Robb, who was in charge of developing the citizenship test.
"They thought it was quite a good idea," Mr Rose said.
"For people to integrate into our society they have to understand the fabric of our community.
"There are institutions or cultures or things that are part of what we would regard as just normal. Sport is one of those."
He said many migrants, such as the latest from Africa, did not come from countries with Australia's social fabric, including sport.
"For these new arrivals to integrate and become true Australians they need to partake in the things we would assume as part of our everyday life," he said.
Apart from AFL clubs, Mr Rose said membership in organisations such as the Country Fire Authority, volunteer groups, the local bowls club, or meals on wheels could also help gain points.
Mr Rose said that by joining a football club people would learn the principles of how Australians lived.
"To get people integrated takes effort, energy and time -- and that all costs money," he said.
"But when you have clubs that are doing that every day, it all of a sudden takes the burden of responsibility away from the Government."
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