The Hon Alex Hawke MP

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

Protecting the integrity of Australian citizenship ceremonies

15 August 2017

The Commonwealth Government has today issued a general warning to all local councils, following a series of politically motivated public attacks on Australia Day using Australian citizenship ceremonies.

The Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Alex Hawke, today wrote to all local councils reminding them of their duties under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code (‘the Code’), warning them that non-compliance will result in the revocation of their authorisation to preside over Australian citizenship ceremonies.

 “The Government views the recent public actions of Greens dominated councils, using their ability to host Australian citizenship ceremonies to lobby against Australia Day on January 26 as a breach of the Code.”

In recent months a small number of councils have waged a coordinated attack on Australia Day, and are doing so through the institution of Australian citizenship. The Turnbull Government is committed to ensuring that citizenship is treated in the ‘non-commercial, apolitical, bipartisan and secular manner’ which our regulations mandate.”

“A citizenship ceremony must not be used as a forum to protest the practice of celebrating Australia Day on 26 January. This includes arranging a citizenship ceremony to align with an ‘anti or alternate Australia Day celebration’.”

“Local councils are now on notice that if they politicise Australian citizenship, the Government will see it as a breach of the code and take the appropriate action.”

“For the record, the Commonwealth Government’s view is that our national day, Australia Day, 26 January, remains the most popular day for our newest citizens to attend citizenship ceremonies. As long as Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January, this is a most appropriate date for a citizenship ceremony to take place.”