The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today welcomed a record 17 059 people from 145 countries who are becoming Australian citizens as part of Australia Day celebrations, with over 430 special ceremonies being staged across the nation.
Australia Day is a special day for all Australians to come together to celebrate what is great about our nation – our rich history and our promising future. It is also a fitting opportunity for Australians to recognise our common bond and unique diversity while celebrating the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.
A quintessentially Australian ceremony for 15 lucky people will be hosted by Cricket NSW at Sydney Olympic Park before tonight’s international Twenty20 match between Australia and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile at Hyde Park, Sydney’s Lord Mayor will welcome seven family groups from seven different countries to the Australian family.
Sydney’s largest Australia Day citizenship event will be hosted by Sutherland Shire Council in the city’s south, with 209 people to receive their citizenship. In regional NSW, the largest citizenship ceremony will be hosted by Gosford Council for 123 conferees.
Victoria will welcome some 3800 new citizens from 105 countries in about 80 citizenship ceremonies across the state. Among the highlights will be a Melbourne Park ceremony hosted by Tennis Australia ahead of the Australian Open women’s final, where the Minister for Sport and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, will welcome the new citizens.
Melbourne Victory Football Club will also host a citizenship ceremony for some 54 conferees at AAMI Park and 26 more will become citizens at the Kensington Australia Day Festival.
Queensland will welcome the most new citizens of any state, with almost 5000 people from more than 120 countries in 82 special citizenship ceremonies today.
Brisbane City Council will host the largest single ceremony in the country at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Southbank, with almost 1200 people making the citizenship pledge.
In South Australia, there will be almost 1300 new citizens from 77 countries as the state celebrates Australia Day with 38 special citizenship ceremonies.
Tasmania will welcome more than 320 new citizens from 46 countries as the state celebrates with some 20 special Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.
In the nation’s west, Western Australia will welcome more than 2500 new citizens from 92 countries as it celebrates Australia Day with around 80 special citizenship ceremonies in suburbs and towns across the state, from Bridgetown to Broome and Kalgoorlie to Kwinana.
Western Australia’s biggest ceremony – and the second largest in the country – will once again take place in Perth’s northern suburb of Wanneroo, where almost 700 new citizens will gather at the showgrounds to make the pledge.
The Northern Territory will welcome more than 260 new citizens from 41 countries as the Top End celebrates Australia Day with seven special citizenship ceremonies today. Highlights will include the ceremonies hosted by the councils of Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs.
Should you have any Immigration queries, contact our Principal Solicitor on (02) 9587 0458.