Jan 26 plan stirs up pollies

ScoMo’s crackdown

LABOR’S Corangamite candidate will not say if she supports the Federal Government’s plan to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

Libby Coker, a Surf Coast Shire councillor, did not answer questions about the Government’s move when asked by the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.

But Ms Coker, who has previously said she thought changing the date of Australia Day was worth consideration, said yesterday Labor would keep Australia Day and the associated public holiday on January 26.

“We can celebrate Australia Day and still recognise and respect that it is a difficult day for many people, in particular our first Australians,” she said.

From next year the Federal Government will make good on its promise to strip councils of their citizenship ceremony rights by forcing them to hold the ceremonies on Australia Day and on Australian Citizenship Day on September 17.

While Ms Coker would not address whether or not she supported forcing councils’ hand on the day, she did say: “Things are getting pretty desperate for Scott Morrison and the Liberals when they are trying to politicise Australia Day.”

Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said she “firmly” believed Australia Day should be held on January 26.

“The Morrison Government has announced it will protect Australia Day by ensuring that all councils around Australia conduct citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day,” Ms Henderson said.

“(Because Ms Coker is) a local councillor with the support of a Labor-aligned mayor, I have been concerned for some time that (she) would seek to undermine Surf Coast Shire citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.”

Yesterday, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: “We’ll consult with councils and people, and see if the idea works and we’ll wait to see what the reaction is.”

Corio MP Richard Marles said he supported citizenship ceremonies being held on Australia Day.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday the revised Australian citizenship ceremonies code would “put an end to local councils trying to skirt the rules or playing politics with Australia Day”.

In other changes, those becoming citizens will be bound by a dress code for ceremonies they attend.

Australian Local Government Association president David O’Loughlin said councils would have concerns about the Federal Government’s plan.

“(Some) councils combine their citizenship ceremonies with their local Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards, which are often held in the week before Australia Day,” Mr O’Loughlin said.

He said the Government’s focus on linking between Australia Day and citizenship ceremonies was bizarre.