Hobart City Council: No more Aus Day citizenship ceremonies from 2024

As of 2024, the Hobart City Council will no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26. But not everyone supported the move. See how elected members voted.

Judy Augustine

@JudyAugustine

3 min read

January 24, 2023 - 4:26PM

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Tasmania

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As of 2024, the Hobart City Council will no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, a decision applauded by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.

Elected members debated whether citizenship ceremonies held on January 26 should be moved after a change to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code which allowed ceremonies to be held on Australia Day or the three days prior or three days after.

Prior to the change, if a council were to hold citizenship ceremonies at any point in the year, it was required to hold one on January 26.

Cr Mike Dutta said there were many new citizens who did not want to celebrate on the date.

“I have also come to this beautiful country from another country, when I became a citizen, I chose to have a private ceremony, just the lord mayor, myself and my family,” Mr Dutta said.

“It was my deliberate choice because I understand the sensitivities and the feelings of our first nations people.

“When my wife and children who became citizens before me, they did the same, it wasn’t on Australia Day.

“There are so many others who come from other countries who feel the same.”

Independent candidate for Clark Mike Dutta in relation to his stance on pokies and political donations. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Dutta also pointed out the debate was only to change the date of citizenship ceremonies.

“We are not changing the date, that is not the issue, they’re two separate issues,” he said.

The decision was not without opposition, while six elected members supported the change, four voted against and one abstained, which was counted as a ‘no’ vote.

“I find this absolutely absurd,” Ald Marti Zucco said.

“We are going to deny those people who look forward to having those citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.”

City of Hobart Councillors, Marti Zucco. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Zucco said the council should instead write to the federal government and suggest a referendum on the date of Australia Day.

“It’s important that’s the way we go forward,” Mr Zucco said.

“If the majority of Australians put forward to change the date to April Fools’ Day, so be it.

“Allow the community of the country to make that decision, not elected members around the table.”

Ald Louise Bloomfield, who abstained, said she didn’t feel comfortable discussing the option.

“I’m not comfortable on voting on issues when they effectively relate to race, I find it highly divisive,” Ms Bloomfield said.

“I feel we’re not particularly educated or supported sufficiently as a council on what are statewide decisions.”

Ms Bloomfield said the council should write to the state government to expedite the Aboriginal treaty.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign manager Nala Mansell congratulated the Hobart City Council on the decision.

“Tasmania’s leading the way in this country,” Ms Mansell said.

TAC Campaign Manager Nala Mansell after Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein tabled the Treaty Report in Parliament that was co authored by Professors Kate Warner and Tim McCormack. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Celebrating the invasion of someone’s country and as a result the invasion and murder is not the right thing to do.

“We’re still waiting for the same leadership to be shown by the Prime Minister but we do applaud his decision which allows local councils to step up and lead the way.”

Ms Mansell it was encouraging to see support on many different levels.

“I think we will definitely see the majority of local councils doing the same thing before January 26 next year,” she said.

“The Huon Valley Council were able to make the necessary change to move their ceremony away from January 26.

“It’s important people who come to this country understand what January 26 symbolises … it marks the day the British invaded Aboriginal land.

“The citizenship ceremony needs to focus more on providing that understanding.”