Dutton set to legislate January 26 Australia Day as more councils back plan for citizenship ceremonies

The Opposition Leader doubled down on his plans to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaks at press conference in Rowville. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Peter Dutton will look at legislating January 26 as the nation’s holiday, as mayors in Labor and independent-held federal electorates back his proposed Australia Day citizenship ceremony crackdown on progressive councils.

The Opposition Leader had called on Anthony Albanese to “stand up to mayors” in local councils that were no longer holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day after Labor loosened the rule in 2022 to allow ceremonies three days before or after January 26. Last year 81 councils changed that date of their citizenship ceremonies.

Mr Dutton was asked on Tuesday if he would legislate to permanently recognise January 26 as Australia Day to protect it from changes.

“I’m happy to look at the suggestion and we have to make sure we continue to be proud of who we are as a country,” he said in Ipswich, Queensland, on Tuesday morning in the “must-win” seat of Blair.

Mr Dutton escalated his war of the words with Anthony Albanese, saying he did not want to be told “by woke CEOs and a weak Prime Minister” that he cannot celebrate Australia Day.

“I want to celebrate Australia Day and I want to stand there with those new citizens who have come from a country that they are trying to escape either persecution or poverty, and they want a future for themselves for their children, their grandchildren,” he said.

Mr Dutton’s announcement comes as support from mayors across the country continues to grow.

In Sydney’s Fairfield City Council, which sits in the federal electorates of McMahon and Fowler, Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone hit out at “woke” councils. McMahon is held by Labor Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen on a 9.5 per cent margin and Fowler by independent Dai Le – aligned with Mr Carbone – on a 1.6 per cent margin.

“I think that many councils take advantage of the current system. They use it, they’re a little bit woke, in my view, compared to our council, and they sort of try and find an excuse to not hold it,” he said.

In the federal electorate of Gellibrand, held by Labor on an 11.5 per cent margin, Hobsons Bay City Council Mayor Daria Kellander said the council has always hosted citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, and will continue to do so.

“Australia Day has proved a popular choice for residents to celebrate and become citizens. I’m looking forward to hosting my first citizenship ceremony this upcoming 26 January,” she said.

Steve Rabie, Mayor of Mansfield Shire Council in Melbourne’s outer north, in the federal electorate of Indi – held by independent Helen Haines on an 8.9 per cent margin – said “I support the plan. And our council, Mansfield Shire, always has an Australia Day, and on that day we celebrate all Australians”.

Other mayors in Liberal- and National-held seats have also supported Mr Dutton’s call. Anthony Marsh, Mayor of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, which holds an Australia Day citizenship ceremony, said “we’re not talking about Mornington Peninsula citizenship or Victorian citizenship, it is a federal thing. It’s highly governed by federal regulation so I think it’s appropriate that they determine when that is”.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn said “Australia Day is a day for all Australians”, and that she had heard “loud and clear” from her community in Queensland that they want citizenship ceremonies held on Australia Day.

“We need to stand together and we need to enjoy a day that represents us as a community, us as a country,” Ms Blackburn said.

Loddon Shire Council Mayor Dan Straub said he supports Mr Dutton’s commitment “in principle” but being in a more regional council means that flexibility is sometimes needed.

Meanwhile, Labor mayors have come out swinging against Mr Dutton’s proposal. Darcy Byrne, Mayor of Sydney’s Inner West Council, said “like clockwork, after New Year’s and before Australia Day, Peter Dutton tries to start a petty culture wars fight”.

“I remember when he tried to enforce an absurd federal government dress code at citizenship ceremonies, forgetting that, overwhelmingly, proud new citizens dress beautifully and certainly don’t need a fashion diktat from plain old Peter.”

The Inner West Council does hold ceremonies on Australia Day, and Mr Byrne said it “will continue to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, with an emphasis on the proud Aboriginal history of this continent”.

Anthony Albanese was asked on Tuesday if he would reinstate the mandate but did not answer. He went on to say that he would attend the National Australia Day commemorations.

“I hope that Peter Dutton this year makes the choice to join the National Australia Day celebrations in Canberra. That’s what I did as the opposition leader,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Dutton responded by rejecting the invitation to attend the event in Canberra because “it is not the tradition”.

“Frankly, I think the Prime Minister is pretty unhinged in some of his comments at the moment,” he said.