Clarence City Council recognises that January 26 or ‘Australia Day’ means different things to different people, and on 24 April 2023, council adopted a report through its Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (RAPWG) which recommended moving community events and citizenship ceremonies away from January 26 as a formal mark of respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community.
The report to council followed notification by the Department of Home Affairs of an amendment to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code (the Code) allowing citizenship ceremonies to be held on Australia Day, or the three days prior or three days after Australia Day.
With the Federal government mandate lifted, January 26 has become a complex date and narrative for many Local Government Authorities to balance with its constituents (as it continues to be a public holiday) and growing unease for a day which for some in our community is not a day of celebration. Within the local context of Tasmania, several Local Government Authorities have already endorsed a move away from holding citizenship ceremonies on 26 January, and there is growing national debate to change the date.
As such, as recommended by its RAPWG, Clarence City Council will not be hosting any citizenship ceremonies or community events on January 26 in 2025.
Clarence City Council’s decision is underpinned by its commitment towards truth-telling and shared learning through the development of its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, which is being facilitated by its RAPWG.