Labor reverses Coalition ban on councils holding citizenship ceremonies outside Australia Day

Minister Andrew Giles announces government will also reinstate powers for Yarra and Darebin councils to conduct citizenship ceremonies

The federal government will allow local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies outside of Australia Day, reversing a Coalition-era directive, but Labor says it still has a “strong expectation” the events will be held on 26 January.

The immigration and citizenship minister, Andrew Giles, has also reinstated the power for two Melbourne councils to hold the ceremonies after they were stripped of the right following 2017 decisions to no longer celebrate Australia Day.

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