McKim ready to step in on Australia Day

TASMANIAN Greens senator Nick McKim will offer to hold Hobart citizenship ceremonies himself if the Federal Government strips the city council of the right because of its push to change the date of Australia Day.

Following an increased appetite among Tasmanian and Australian councils for reviewing the suitability of Australia Day on January 26, the Federal Government has warned that those which supported a change could be stripped of their power to hold citizenship ceremonies.

A motion by Hobart City Council for Australian councils to consider the steps they could take to lobby the Federal Government to change the date of Australia Day was passed by just two votes at last month’s Australian Local Government Association’s national general assembly.

Melbourne’s Yarra Council has voted to no longer recognise Australia Day or hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, with at least three other Victorian councils to consider following their move.

Following the decision by the City of Yarra, Assistant Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke revoked the council’s right to hold citizenship ceremonies.

“They’ve done the wrong thing, we’ve taken it off them, the ball is in their court now,” Mr Hawke said on Melbourne radio yesterday.

But Senator McKim, in a letter to Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey, said he would be prepared to step in on the council’s behalf if required.

Under the Australian Citizenship Act (2007) Instrument of Authorisation, senators have a standing authorisation to preside at citizenship ceremonies and do not need to seek any authorisation from a minister to do so.

Senator McKim told the Mercury the offer was made to ensure Hobart — which holds about four citizenship ceremonies each year — could still welcome new citizens.

“This offer is designed to ensure that Hobart City Council is not bullied out of doing the right thing by Canberra,” he said.

“The people of Hobart are warm and welcoming, and should not have their citizenship ceremonies taken away by vindictive, small-minded ministers.

“We want to ensure that should Hobart City Council no longer want to conduct ceremonies on January 26, they will still be able to welcome new citizens during the rest of the year.”

Ald Hickey — who called for councils’ ability to hold citizenship ceremonies to be kept separate from the conversation to change the date — said the moves by Yarra and other interstate councils showed that there was momentum in the push.

“I think the conversation is getting louder,” she said.