Councils forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26

Every council will be forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, with the Morrison government making good on its threat to strip rogue councils of their citizenship rights, it can be revealed.

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Every council will be forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day with the Morrison Government making good on its threat to strip rogues councils of their citizenship rights.

In a move designed to further entrench January 26 as our national day, the government has revised the citizenship code, making it compulsory for all 537 councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

Gearing up for a an election-year fight against the Greens-led campaign to change the date of Australia Day, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would “protect our national day and ensure it is respected.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will force councils to hold citizenships on January 26. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

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“We believe all councils who are granted the privilege of conducting citizenship ceremonies should be required to conduct a ceremony on Australia Day,” he said.

Last year more than 70 per cent of councils held citizenship ceremonies on January 26 despite there being no specific requirement to do so. Two Melbourne councils have already lost their right to hold citizenship ceremonies after voting to scrap all Australia Day celebrations in favour of an indigenous-themed event.

But the government believes more councils are using sneaky tactics such a blaming extreme weather to avoid holding celebrations.

Two of the councils at risk of having citizenship powers revoked include the Hawkesbury City Council and Kempsey Shire Council on the NSW mid north coast.

The citizenship code has been revised to “protect our national day and ensure it is respected.” Picture: Kym Smith

Both councils will hold citizenship ceremonies on the evening of January 25 this year citing cooler weather conditions and a desire by participants to receive their citizenship during the awards events.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that a new code has been deliberately designed to abolish these loopholes which allow councils to hold ceremonies on the days either side of Australia Day.

Mr Morrison said the revised Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code will “put an end to local councils trying to skirt the rules or playing politics with Australia Day.”

Under the changes, councils will also be forced to hold a second ceremony on Australian Citizenship Day on September 17. And, for the first time, new citizens will be bound by a strict dress code.

The new changes will further entrench January 26 as Australia’s national day. Picture: Cole Bennetts/Getty Images

The Prime Minister said it is important citizenship ceremonies are respected.

“By all means put on the boardies and thongs for the BBQ afterwards, but for the official ceremony, it’s the right thing to do to show respect in how you dress for your new country of citizenship and your fellow new citizens,” he said.

Some remote councils that don’t have enough new citizens will be exempt from the tough new rules. The revised code will be sent to councils this week but won’t be introduced until 2020.

Immigration Minister David Coleman said the new rules will ensure Australia Day isn’t “overtaken by anyone’s desire to politicise our national day. People should be given the chance to join us as Australians on our national day.”