Push to enforce citizenship ceremony dress code on Australia Day
The federal government has asked local councils to provide dress codes for citizenship ceremonies ahead of Australia Day as municipalities flout the boardies ban, instead allowing new citizens to receive their citizenship in whatever clothes they want.
NSW
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Councils are expected to defy new federal government rules demanding people dress formally when becoming Australian citizens — and let them rock up in boardshorts and singlets if they wish.
The new dress code was part of a federal government plan to force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and comes into effect this month.
And the government will write to councils, calling on them to submit their dress code standards to the Department of Home Affairs for review before January 26.
An analysis of local councils by The Sunday Telegraph has revealed the vast majority of municipalities have developed a dress code in the past year but will still allow new citizens to receive their citizenship in whatever clothes they want.
Most councils have told participants they are “encouraged to wear smart, casual attire” with slippers, singlets or pyjamas considered inappropriate.
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But it seems only a handful of councils will enforce the rules and remove attendees from citizenship ceremonies if dressed inappropriately.
Many councils such as Sutherland Shire have said there is “no official dress code”.
However, some councils — such as Victoria’s Maribyrnong council — will adopt a stricter approach with what are judged to be poorly-dressed participants asked to “remove themselves from the venue”.
But many councils have branded the dress code “unnecessary” and “impractical”, claiming most new citizens dress appropriately and the rules could create financial hardship.
In a letter to the federal government, Local Government NSW — the body representing NSW councils — said the standard of dress at council-run citizenship ceremonies “has not been an issue of concern” for councils.
“In the experience of councils, new Australians and their guests attend ceremonies in suitably formal and respectful attire reflecting the importance of the occasion, including at times in national or cultural dress of their countries of origin,” the letter from Local Government NSW said.
“Imposing additional regulations around dress code for citizenship ceremonies appears to impose additional regulatory complexity on the conferral of citizenship, in the absence of any demonstrated need.”
Originally published as Push to enforce citizenship ceremony dress code on Australia Day