Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan pledges to force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day

A senior Liberal MP has pledged to force local councils into holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, overturning Labor-era reforms which allow for a three-day buffer on either side of January 26.

The comments come after the City of Wanneroo in Perth’s North, Adelaide’s City of Unley and the City of Greater Geelong council now considering reverting to holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

The Coalition’s immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on “our national day,” and criticised Anthony Albanese for “trying to walk both sides of the fence”.

“A Coalition government will require councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day,” he told NewsWire.

“(Anthony Albanese) says he has no plans to change the date but he does nothing to show support for Australians who want to celebrate on our national day because he is scared of the backlash from the Greens, especially in his inner city electorate.

“The Coalition believes that new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on our national day.”

The 2022 change was implemented after two Victorian councils were stripped of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies, despite then immigration minister Andrew Giles stating there was still the “strong expectation” events would still be held on January 26.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj this week said he would reserve his judgment on the proposed requirement but said he was “very much in favour” of conducting citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

While he said he didn’t want to “dictate” to other councils, he said the events were a “really precious thing”.

“People who come to this country recognise how fortunate they are to be living in Australia,” he said.

“I come from an immigrant background and I’ve always appreciated the opportunities that Australia gives.

“For me, Australia Day is celebrating everything that is great and good (about Australia) and citizenship ceremonies are a part of that.”

City of Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson said the Adelaide council reversed it decision after community consultation revealed residents wanted to have both a citizenship ceremony and a celebration on January 26.

“I’m pretty proud of the way our council handled the change in a responsible, adult fashion,” he said.

Although Mr Hewitson wasn’t wedded to January 26 as Australia’s national day, he believed it was up to the federal government to set the date for Australia Day, and in turn “encourage local government to celebrate the date they’ve chosen”.

“Personal opinion is irrelevant. The date is chosen, and we should have Australia Day and we celebrate it well.”

However the move is likely to anger other local councils that have adopted the change.

City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said the council had received a huge uptick in participation since changing the date of its citizenship ceremonies.

“The ceremonies formerly held on 26 January accommodated 10-15 people. The ceremony we are holding on 29 January will see over 100 people made Australian citizens,” she said, adding that 173 people have already confirmed their attendance for the January 29 event next 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.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he supported the ceremonies, no matter what day they were held.

“I wish we could have citizenship ceremonies every single day of the year,” said Mr Burke.

“When I hear people stand up and pledge they want to make a lifelong commitment to Australia I couldn’t be happier.”