Read the full list of councils that have ditched a major Australia Day tradition as Aussies fume over the news: ‘It’s a slap in the face’

Anger is mounting after 80 councils decided to scrap citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day with the move exposing bitter divisions around the national day.

Those opposing expressed their fury and dismay on social media at abandoning the ritual and accused councils of pandering to a minority that believe January 26 should be marked by mourning over the dispossession of Indigenous peoples.

Others have supported the move saying citizenship ceremonies have been held at other times besides Australia Day in the past.

The federal Opposition has vowed to reverse the trend as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is accused of trying to abolish the tradition.  

After the Albanese government repealed a law forcing councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies 80 local governments have scrapped the ritual

‘How bloody pathetic is this once great country becoming ?’ one person fumed on social media platform X.

‘Far left/green councils,’ another added.

‘Jan 26 is Australia Day supported by the majority of Australians, only ones that don’t support it hate this country.’ 

‘It’s a bloody slap in the face to those that pay rates to keep them in a job,’ another infuriated X user wrote.

‘We need to phase out local council…they are another level of unnecessary government and are barely able to function even with limited responsibilities like rates, garbage, sewerage, pet control etc,’

‘They (councils) are at odds with 62% of the country,’ another person wrote referring to the percentage of voters who rejected the Indigenous Voice to Parliament at the October referendum.  

However, some supported the move with a number pointing out that citizenship ceremonies took place throughout the year. 

‘Farcical front page in the Herald Sun listing 80 councils choosing not to do a citizenship ceremony on January 26,’ tweeted Stephen Mayne, the founder of left-leaning news and opinion newsletter Crikey.

‘We do them every month so why does one have to be on this controversial date?’ 

‘My citizenship ceremony wasn’t held on Australia Day,’ another said.

‘Turnbull’s government forced councils to hold it on 26th January in 2017.’

‘So what, who cares?’ another person tweeted.

‘They run their citizenship ceremonies on a normal work days, Rate payers should save money No double pay during the week.’ 

In reply a supporter of the date said it was true citizenship ceremonies are held on other days ‘but the decision not to hold them on Australia Day smacks of self-righteousness and hypocrisy!’

Australia Day has become a polarising event with some believing January 26 should be marked as a day of mourning over the dispossession of Indigenous peoples

‘For immigrants looking to obtain citizenship, an Australian Day ceremony is just that little more special!’ they argued. 

In late 2022 the Albanese government scrapped a rule that forced councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.

Mr Albanese assured Aussies at the time that ‘there are no changes here’.

Only four councils, including the City of Sydney opted to boycott the event this year in the wake of the recent rule change but than quadrupled for 2024.

On Saturday the Herald Sun ­revealed that more than 80 councils across Australia have decided to scrap citizenship ceremonies on January 26, which included more than a quarter of the councils in Victoria.

The federal Opposition vowed to reverse this trend.  

 ‘If the Coalition wins the next election we will do everything we can to unite Australians on Australia Day,’ Shadow Minister for Immigration Dan Tehan said:

‘This will include by ensuring new citizens have the choice right around our nation of having their citizenship ceremony on our national day.’

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the government had no plan to change the date of Australia Day or to outlaw the holding of citizenship ceremonies on that date if councils wished to do so.

‘I look forward to welcoming new citizens at ceremonies in the coming weeks, including on Australia Day,’ he said.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said her council’s decision to scrap its January 26 citizenship ceremony had widespread support and that Australia Day was a ‘painful’ day for many people.

Ms Moore said the City of Sydney would hold ceremonies on January 29 instead, in line with the new government code, just as it did this year.

She said ceremonies formerly held on January 26 in the City of Sydney had low turnouts of only 10-15 people, while their new January 29 date was ­expected to see 160 people ­become Australian citizens.

Councils that have scrapped Australia Day citizenship ceremonies

NSW

Tweed Shire

Wentworth Shire

Woollahra

Newcastle City Merri-Bek City

North Sydney Nillumbik Shire

Parkes Shire 

Shellharbour City 

Eurobodalla Shire 

Lake Macquarie 

Nambucca Valley

Canterbury-Bankstown  

Central Coast 

City of Sydney

Coffs Harbour

Clarence Valley 

Nambucca Valley

Blue Mountains 

Albury City 

Victoria

Buloke Shire

Banyule City 

Alpine Shire

Buloke Shire

Greater Bendigo 

Glenelg Shire 

Darebin City 

Glen Eira City 

Corangamite Shire 

Merri-Bek City

Hindmarsh Shire 

Macedon Ranges 

Warrnambool City 

Nillumbik Shire

Whittlesea City 

Queensland

Toowoomba Regional

Whitsunday Regional 

Rockhampton Regional 

Bundaberg Regional 

Burdekin Shire 

Cassowary Coast 

Charters Towers 

Gladstone Regional

Ipswich City 

Isaac Regional 

South Australia 

City of Adelaide 

Charles Sturt City 

 Unley City

Port Adelaide Enfield

Mitcham City

Prospect City

Whyalla 

Tasmania 

City of Hobart 

Devenport City 

Glenorchy City 

Huon Valley 

Launceston City

Meander Valley Municipal 

West Tamar Municipal 

Northern Tettitory 

Barkly Regional 

Litchfield