Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards Date

Consultation has concluded

Background

In 2023 the City was advised by the Federal Government that local governments now have greater flexibility for Citizenship Ceremonies. Local governments have been given the option to hold their Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony on an alternative date to the Australia Day public holiday.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 28 February 2023, Council resolved to "request the Chief Executive Officer to 1) Consider, in consultation with the members of the Reconciliation Advisory Committee (RAC), the appropriateness of an alternative date to celebrate the Annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards, and 2) Address the alternative event date and feedback from RAC members in a report to Council in May 2023".

The City engaged with Committee members at the April 2023 RAC meeting to collect feedback, as providing a recommendation or resolution would be outside the Committee's terms of reference. Officers prepared a report to the Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 May 2023, which included feedback received from the RAC. At this meeting, Council supported the recommendation that the City advertise for public comment a proposed change to the day to hold the annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards.

Engagement

Consultation was undertaken via an online survey and a meeting with the City’s Reconciliation Advisory Committee.

Consultation data and comments were reviewed by City Officers and presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) on the 26 March 2024. The survey outcomes report is available here.

Outcome

Council's resolution at the OCM was "That Council holds the Annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards and the associated Community Event celebrating Australia and migrants becoming Australians, within the three days following 26 January."

Please see the council resolution in the attached Ordinary Council Meeting - 26 March 2024 Minutes (from page 412) for more information.

Background

In 2023 the City was advised by the Federal Government that local governments now have greater flexibility for Citizenship Ceremonies. Local governments have been given the option to hold their Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony on an alternative date to the Australia Day public holiday.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 28 February 2023, Council resolved to "request the Chief Executive Officer to 1) Consider, in consultation with the members of the Reconciliation Advisory Committee (RAC), the appropriateness of an alternative date to celebrate the Annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards, and 2) Address the alternative event date and feedback from RAC members in a report to Council in May 2023".

The City engaged with Committee members at the April 2023 RAC meeting to collect feedback, as providing a recommendation or resolution would be outside the Committee's terms of reference. Officers prepared a report to the Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 May 2023, which included feedback received from the RAC. At this meeting, Council supported the recommendation that the City advertise for public comment a proposed change to the day to hold the annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards.

Engagement

Consultation was undertaken via an online survey and a meeting with the City’s Reconciliation Advisory Committee.

Consultation data and comments were reviewed by City Officers and presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) on the 26 March 2024. The survey outcomes report is available here.

Outcome

Council's resolution at the OCM was "That Council holds the Annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards and the associated Community Event celebrating Australia and migrants becoming Australians, within the three days following 26 January."

Please see the council resolution in the attached Ordinary Council Meeting - 26 March 2024 Minutes (from page 412) for more information.