‘Show spine’: PM should bring back policy forcing councils to hold Australia Day ceremonies

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should “show spine” and “show leadership” by reinstitute a Morrison-era policy forcing councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, says Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan. More than 80 local councils across Australia have cancelled the traditional Australia Day citizenship ceremonies out of respect for Indigenous Australians. The Morrison government introduced rules that forced councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day or be stripped of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies, but Mr Albanese abolished the policy when he took office. “We want to put it back and we see no reason the Albanese Labor government shouldn’t do exactly the same thing,” Mr Tehan told Sky News Australia. “Their policy is undermining Australia Day. “Anthony Albanese should do the right thing – he should show spine, show leadership and reinstitute a policy that meant future citizens had that right to have their citizenship ceremony on Australia Day.”