The Liberal Party has pledged to “protect Australia Day” by setting new rules for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Jan. 26 if it gains power at the next election.
Over 80 councils across Australia have decided to abolish citizenship ceremonies on Jan. 26, after the Albanese government scrapped the former Morrison government’s rule in December 2022 that forced councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
In Victoria alone, more than a quarter of councils have decided not to mark Australia Day with a citizenship ceremony.
Dan Tehan, shadow minister for immigration and citizenship, criticised Labor for trying to change the National Day.
“Australia Day is a proud day for the many thousands of people who will join our multicultural family and become Australian citizens, it should be respected.
“If the Prime Minister wants to change Australia Day he should be upfront with the Australian people instead of working in the shadows to change the date.”
Jan. 26 marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet in Sydney by Captain Arthur Phillip in Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
The day has been a source of contention, with those in support of Australia Day viewing Jan. 26 as a celebratory occasion to commemorate the birth of their liberal democracy, while others, such as indigenous rights activists, dubbing the day “Invasion Day” while proposing an alternative date, such as Jan. 29.
The Australia Day Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation and the organiser of the annual Australia Day gala dinner, decided not to hold the popular fundraising event in January, which has been held for 20 years in London and normally attracts famous names, as instructed by the top Australian diplomat.
Mr. Tehan promised a future Coalition government will ensure that new citizens “have the choice right around our nation of having their citizenship ceremony on our national day.”
“The Coalition believes that new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on our national day,” Mr. Tehan said. “If the Coalition wins the next election, we will do everything we can to unite Australians on Australia Day.”
Leaders of councils that have abolished the Jan. 26 citizenship ceremony cited public support for doing so.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, for instance, said “the date of a national celebration should not be on Invasion Day,” and that her council would hold ceremonies on Jan. 29 instead, as it did last year.
“The City of Sydney strongly supports changing the date of Australia’s national day to one that can be fully embraced and celebrated by all Australians,” Ms. Moore said.
“Advocating for a change of date won’t resolve the devastating and far-reaching impacts of colonisation, but it does provide a platform for an ongoing and honest conversation.”
On the contrary, Peter Gangemi, Mayor of The Hills Shire in northwest Sydney, whose council was mistakenly listed by the Department of Home Affairs as having no ceremony on Australia Day, said there was “no better way to mark the occasion than with a citizenship ceremony.”
Australia is “the greatest nation on Earth and we have so much to celebrate as a community on the 26th of January,” he said.
