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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/02/australia-day-government-could-block-fremantle-from-moving-citizenship-ceremony
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| Australia Day: government could block Fremantle from moving citizenship ceremony | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fremantle council’s move to hold citizenship ceremonies on its “culturally inclusive alternative” celebration to Australia Day could be blocked by the federal government. | Fremantle council’s move to hold citizenship ceremonies on its “culturally inclusive alternative” celebration to Australia Day could be blocked by the federal government. |
| Ben Morton, the Liberal MP for Tangney, has called on the government to stop the council “politicising” the annual citizenship ceremony. | Ben Morton, the Liberal MP for Tangney, has called on the government to stop the council “politicising” the annual citizenship ceremony. |
| Alex Hawke, the assistant minister for immigration, said he would write to the council on Friday to advise it that its ability to preside over citizenship ceremonies would be revoked if it was found to breach the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code. | Alex Hawke, the assistant minister for immigration, said he would write to the council on Friday to advise it that its ability to preside over citizenship ceremonies would be revoked if it was found to breach the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code. |
| But one Fremantle councillor, Dave Hume, told Guardian Australia that such an intervention would be “ludicrous” and “over the top”. Hume, the only councillor to vote against the change, said the council had decided only to stop funding fireworks on Australia Day. | But one Fremantle councillor, Dave Hume, told Guardian Australia that such an intervention would be “ludicrous” and “over the top”. Hume, the only councillor to vote against the change, said the council had decided only to stop funding fireworks on Australia Day. |
| He said the federal government now appeared to be attempting to distract the public from “their great big cock-up of everything else”. | He said the federal government now appeared to be attempting to distract the public from “their great big cock-up of everything else”. |
| “I think it’s over the top and I think it’s actually sad that something that was designed to actually be an inclusive event has proven to be so divisive,” Hume said. “I think if everyone stood back and took a deep breath, they would realise that things weren’t actually going to collapse and the roof wasn’t going to cave in.” | “I think it’s over the top and I think it’s actually sad that something that was designed to actually be an inclusive event has proven to be so divisive,” Hume said. “I think if everyone stood back and took a deep breath, they would realise that things weren’t actually going to collapse and the roof wasn’t going to cave in.” |
| The council had planned to hold celebrations on 28 January, the new “One Day” celebration intended by the city of Fremantle as a “culturally inclusive alternative” for Australia Day. | The council had planned to hold celebrations on 28 January, the new “One Day” celebration intended by the city of Fremantle as a “culturally inclusive alternative” for Australia Day. |
| But Hawke said citizenship ceremonies should be “non-commercial, apolitical, bipartisan and secular” and he would also ask the council to restore the ceremony to 26 January. | But Hawke said citizenship ceremonies should be “non-commercial, apolitical, bipartisan and secular” and he would also ask the council to restore the ceremony to 26 January. |
| “The government takes a very dim view of Fremantle council’s decision to cancel their Australia Day events on political grounds,” he said. “If Fremantle council is found to be in breach of the code, I have the power to revoke Fremantle council’s ability to preside over citizenship ceremonies, under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.” | “The government takes a very dim view of Fremantle council’s decision to cancel their Australia Day events on political grounds,” he said. “If Fremantle council is found to be in breach of the code, I have the power to revoke Fremantle council’s ability to preside over citizenship ceremonies, under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.” |
| Morton had expressed concern that new Australian citizens would be denied the “honour and privilege” of having their citizenship ceremony held on Australia Day. “Freo council needs to pull its head in, and focus on picking up the rubbish, fixing potholes and providing value to ratepayers,” he said. | Morton had expressed concern that new Australian citizens would be denied the “honour and privilege” of having their citizenship ceremony held on Australia Day. “Freo council needs to pull its head in, and focus on picking up the rubbish, fixing potholes and providing value to ratepayers,” he said. |
| “This is political correctness gone mad, I encourage anyone who wants to wear their Aussie flag shorts, green and gold caps and their thongs to head down to Freo on Australia Day and celebrate our national day. Just because the council doesn’t want to, doesn’t mean we can’t. | “This is political correctness gone mad, I encourage anyone who wants to wear their Aussie flag shorts, green and gold caps and their thongs to head down to Freo on Australia Day and celebrate our national day. Just because the council doesn’t want to, doesn’t mean we can’t. |
| “Having your citizenship conferred to you on Australia Day is very special. The actions of Freo council will deny that very special occasion to our new citizens – it’s a disgrace.” | “Having your citizenship conferred to you on Australia Day is very special. The actions of Freo council will deny that very special occasion to our new citizens – it’s a disgrace.” |
| The city of Fremantle issued a statement late on Friday saying it had not yet received any letter from the federal government but believed its plans were fully compliant with citizenship laws. | The city of Fremantle issued a statement late on Friday saying it had not yet received any letter from the federal government but believed its plans were fully compliant with citizenship laws. |
| The council had previously contacted the immigration department and was told there was no requirement to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January. “Many councils throughout Australia do not hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January, or any other official events on that day,” the statement said. | The council had previously contacted the immigration department and was told there was no requirement to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January. “Many councils throughout Australia do not hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January, or any other official events on that day,” the statement said. |
| When he announced the celebration on 25 November, Brad Pettitt, the mayor of Fremantle , said One Day acknowledged the fact that Australia Day “wasn’t a day of celebration for everybody”. | When he announced the celebration on 25 November, Brad Pettitt, the mayor of Fremantle , said One Day acknowledged the fact that Australia Day “wasn’t a day of celebration for everybody”. |
| He said the council had heard “loud and clear” opposition to Australia Day from local Aboriginal communities. | He said the council had heard “loud and clear” opposition to Australia Day from local Aboriginal communities. |
| Erik Jensen, the editor of the Saturday Paper, called for the rest of the country to follow suit with a campaign to #ChangeTheDate. | Erik Jensen, the editor of the Saturday Paper, called for the rest of the country to follow suit with a campaign to #ChangeTheDate. |