PM urges citizens to celebrate Australia
Anthony Albanese says Australia is a model of harmony and unity presented to the rest of the world amid global conflict and upheaval.
Anthony Albanese says Australia is a model of harmony and unity presented to the rest of the world amid global conflict and upheaval, urging all citizens to “cherish and celebrate” the national story.
In an address to the National Citizenship Day ceremony in Canberra, the Prime Minister said Australia Day was a time to pause and reflect on what the country had achieved despite the “ups and downs” of its history.
Mr Albanese emphasised the nation’s differences, saying the “bedrock of that diversity is the world’s oldest continuous culture”.
“When I think about the conflict in the world, based upon differences in faith, differences in culture, the great Australian project is to be a microcosm for the way people live with respect side by side, respecting our differences in faith, or ethnicity or background and culture, and recognise that actually celebrating each other for just who we are presents a model for the world,” he said.
“A model of harmony that we aim to project to the world, from just the greatest country in the world.”
Welcoming 16 new citizens to Australia, Mr Albanese said all Australians had a responsibility to ensure the country was more prosperous and stronger into the future. “Australia Day is our chance to … reflect on everything we have achieved as a nation, everything we have created and built and learned through all the ups and downs of our history – the mighty challenges we have faced, the profound opportunities we have seized, the stern tests we have passed, together.”
Hours after Mr Albanese’s remarks, tension flared outside Parliament House when about 600 protesters swarmed the doors causing security to place the building into lockdown.
Indigenous rights and pro-Palestinian activists descended on the main entrance to protest against Australia Day and Israel’s war in Gaza, creating a standoff with police, who formed a human barricade to protect the doors of Parliament House.
Chants of “Always was, always will be Aboriginal land” blended with “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, with many protesters brandishing flags and symbols in support of both causes.
One protester yelled “F..k Israel, f..k Australia” as parliamentary security shut the doors, prompting the crowd to march to the Aboriginal tent embassy.
Before the protest began, several dignitaries and federal parliamentarians attended the Australia Day ceremony on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, including Governor-General David Hurley, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Mr Albanese’s partner, Jodie Hayden.
Medical researchers Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer attended the event after being named Australians of the Year on Thursday for their world-leading work treating melanoma.
About those granted citizenship on the bank of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra on Friday were people from a number of countries including The Philippines, India, Japan, Estonia, North Macedonia, Liberia, the US, Uzbekistan, Tonga and Mongolia.
Mr Albanese, who wore an Akubra for the event, celebrated those who were becoming Australians all across the country. “Today our sense of togetherness is growing at 320 citizenship ceremonies right across this continent, with more than 15,000 people becoming Australian citizens – more than 15,000 people from every part of the world, drawn from every faith and background, will be pledging their loyalty to their new home, to Australia, our democratic beliefs, our laws, our values, our people,” he said.
Prior to the citizenship ceremony, attendees watched 2023 Australian of the Year finalists as well as emergency first responders carry two Australian flags, two Aboriginal flags and two Torres Strait flags before they were raised.
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