It was also of the view that there was no need to enforce a strict dress code prohibiting new citizens from attending ceremonies in board-shorts and thongs.

Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields said becoming an Australian is a great honour on any day.

“I think hosting citizenship ceremonies on a day of national celebration adds a special element, but it may not be practical to only hold the ceremony once a year,” Cr Shields said. 

He said his council organises a ceremony on the advice of the Department of Immigration.

“Four ceremonies were held last year to welcome a total of 59 new citizens,” Cr Shields said.

Under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which is to be introduced in 2020, the Federal Government will make it mandatory for councils to hold a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day and a second ceremony on September 17 – the Australian Citizenship Day.

Some councils, however, have moved their ceremonies out of respect for Indigenous Australians.

Many Indigenous people observe January 26 as a day of mourning. 

Cr Shields said choosing to become an Australian citizen demonstrates your personal loyalty and commitment to Australia and its people.  

He said new citizens are always well-dressed for the event.

Across the central west, Orange will also continue to hold it’s ceremonies throughout the year, including on January 26. 

Bathurst council were to hold their ceremony on January 25, but have since changed the date back to January 26 after councillors came out on Monday criticising the decision and calling for the date to be changed. 

The citizenship ceremony will be held at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) at 10am on Australia Day, while the other awards Bathurst Regional Council hands out will still be presented the night before at the same venue.

Orange City Council said it has no plans to change the day for the citizenship ceremony.

The council’s manager of corporate and community relations Nick Redmond on Monday said the council hosts citizenship ceremonies around six to eight times a year.

From those ceremonies, 82 residents became citizens last year.

“We have a long history of holding citizenship ceremonies as part of community celebrations on Australia Day and there are no plans to change that,” Mr Redmond said.

Orange councillor Joanne McRae said she will support continuing to hold citizenship ceremonies on multiple occasions, providing a range of opportunities to people to become citizens of Australia.

“It is really important to hold multiple ceremonies,” Cr McRae said.

Cr McRae said the council will approach Local Government NSW if it feels the new rules are inappropriate.

“We would talk to Local Government NSW to ensure that councils are consistent in the voice they take in advocacy to the Federal Government on this matter,” she said.

Cr McRae said she has not seen anyone in Orange attending citizenship ceremonies dressed inappropriately. 

“This is a real celebration for the families,” Cr McRae said. 

The government will send the revised code to councils this week.

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