Dozens of citizenship ceremonies planned for year’s end to now be held on Australia Day

DOZENS of citizenship ceremonies scheduled to be held by local councils have been deferred to Australia Day by the federal government.

DOZENS of citizenship ceremonies scheduled to be held by local councils have been deferred to Australia Day by the federal government.

CITY OF MELBOURNE REFUSES TO DUMP AUSTRALIA DAY

MORELAND COUNCILLORS VOTE TO DUMP AUSTRALIA DAY

DAREBIN COUNCIL DUMPS AUSTRALIA DAY

The move will give a boost to the national day, which has come under attack by hard Left councils and activists who claim it is “Invasion Day” and offensive to Aborigines.

Inner city Greens-dominated councils Yarra and Darebin provoked outrage earlier this year by effectively dumping Australia Day and refusing to hold citizenship events on it.

Far-Right protesters storm a Moreland council meeting, carrying a fake coffin painted with the Australian flag. Picture: Emma Hastings

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Alex Hawke retaliated by stripping the councils of the right to hold citizenship ceremonies at any time.

The City of Moreland also voted to snub Australia Day, but opted to still hold a ceremony on January 26 next year. It’s understood that the government will monitor how Moreland conducts the citizenship event for any signs of it politicising the national day.

Victorian Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government Tim Smith said: “The support for Australia Day is clear and the Greens-Labor councils should stop trying to cancel our national holiday.”

Victorian Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government Tim Smith.

It can be revealed that 54 council citizenship ceremonies across Australia that were scheduled for October, November and December will now be held on Australia Day.

This includes the City of Boroondara, which has deferred a November event to January because fewer than 40 candidates had nominated.

Across the nation, Australia Day is the single biggest day for citizenship ceremonies.