Threat to cut pollies’ Australia Day role

THE Federal Government has warned politicians could be stripped of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies as the debate around the date of Australia Day continues.

Ten days out from Australia Day, the Greens offered to host citizenship ceremonies on behalf of local councils on January 26 out of respect for indigenous people.

But Acting Citizenship Minister Mathias Cormann says the ceremonies, which all federal MPs and senators currently have the right to preside over, can’t be used as forums for political expression.

“As our government has done with two local councils already, the minister can revoke a person’s or an organisation’s authorisation to conduct citizenship ceremonies, by changing the relevant legislative instrument,” Senator Cormann said in a statement.

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale isn’t fazed, saying there would first have to be a vote in the Senate.

“This is about a day that represents so much hurt and suffering for first nations peoples,” he said yesterday.

“We lose nothing by changing the day on which we celebrate Australia Day.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Greens leader is pulling a stunt to undermine the holiday.

“It’s not good enough to say that you just won’t change it,” Mr Morrison said in Vanuatu yesterday. “You have to stand up for it. And I’m standing up for it.”

Meanwhile, a new poll shows three in four people believe Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on January 26.

Commissioned by rightwing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, the poll shows just 10 per cent of 1000 people surveyed want to change the date of the national day.

Mr Morrison plans to force councils to hold ceremonies on Australia Day and enforce a strict dress code.