One of Us?

"When Paul Keating announced his plans for an Australian Republic in 1995, he emphatically appealed for Australia's head of state to be 'one of us.' But what does it mean to be 'one of us'? Who can be an Australian citizen? Who was entitled to citizenship in the past? By what paths can newcomers become 'one of us'? And how have these paths changed since 1901? "One of Us? A Century of Australian Citizenship" traces the meanings of citizenship and belonging that are evident in the Australian Government's civil policies. The book shows that, since Federation, Australian citizenship has had much less to do with questions of civil and political rights, democracy and sovereignty than with a determination to create a cohesive and loyal citizenry. The government's policies have addressed the problems it has faced in incorporating migrants and in controlling the movement of people in and out of the country. At a time when questions of who can be 'one of us' are as alive as ever, and when citizenship, race and multiculturalism are vital issues in contemporary politics, this comprehensive examination of our past is vital to our understanding of the issue of citizenship today."