Australia news live: Invasion Day rallies under way as speaker tells marchers ‘vote no’ to voice; 19,000 people become citizens

‘We push back against constitutional recognition’, speaker says at Sydney Invasion Day rally

Framed by posters saying “vote no to referendum” and “we deserve more than a voice”, organisers have begun the Invasion Day rally in Sydney with a welcome to country.

Surrounded by a strong showing of police, protesters have flowed into Belmore Park in Sydney’s CBD all morning.

Speakers have lined up to remind attendees of the history of Australia and the purpose of todays rally, including reinforcing the importance of recognising Australia’s colonial history.

One of the speakers has addressed the push for constitutional recognition and the referendum for a voice to parliament, saying that “across the east coast, we push back against constitutional recognition”:

This is the voice, they don’t want to hear it, we speak to power everyday and they don’t like it. We will never compromise.

MC Lizzi Jarrett said that neither the Labor government nor the Liberal opposition was “their friend”, adding that the push for a voice to parliament was a “whitewashed” measure:

We already had a referendum in ’67 and it done nothing for our rights, we are the voice. When the vote comes, vote no for a voice. Don’t come here and tick a box.

Updated at 18.29 EST

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A large, raucous crowd has grown at Sydney’s Invasion Day rally, as speakers remind attendees of the purpose of the rally.

MC Lizzie Jarrett calls Australia Day dead, as she addresses gathered Police in front of a supportive crowd, saying they didn’t need their protection.

We protect each other. This is sovereignty day, Australia Day is dead. We have been fighting this for 238 years.

Just like queen Lizzie, Australia Day is dead with her.

Will you support us? If you do, when that referendum comes around, kick it to the ground like Australia.

Another speaker, Paul Silva, who told the crowd about the rate of Indigenous deaths in custody, calling for Australia Day to be abolished.

Silva is the nephew of the late David Dungay Jnr, who died in Sydney’s Long Bay jail in 2015 after being held down by guards.

We will not celebrate rape, theft and murder on January 26. How can this day be celebrated when it’s about plain, cold genocide? So for everyone out there celebrating today, my question would be would you celebrate a day when your ancestors or family members were raped and killed?

We see this system constantly killing us, we demand independent investigations into these deaths. We demand justice and accountability.

A minutes silence was held right after, with protesters holding their fists up in solidarity.

Signs opposing voice to parliament at Canberra Sovereignty Day rally

‘Every migrant generation has broadened our horizons, deepened our identity and enriched our nation’, PM says

Circling back to the PM’s words at the citizenship ceremony in Canberra, he reflected on the very first ceremony conducted in 1949 by Ben Chifley where seven migrants took the pledge that day to become the first “naturalised” Australians, as it was then called.

Albanese shared the story of the first person to be called at the ceremony, a 34-year-old man who came from Czechoslovakia to work as a eucalyptus oil distiller.

The plan was to earn and save for a couple of years before returning home to his wife and family, but the devastation of the second world war and the uncertainty of the encroaching iron curtain meant that he stayed in Australia to try to have his wife join him. Through those long, hard years, he exchanged just a few letters with his family and the first time his wife would see her husband’s face again was one she was on the boat from Melbourne to Sydney, newly arrived in Australia, looking at the newspaper. There it was – a photograph of her husband at that first citizenship ceremony. The two were reunited. They built their life together, raised a family.

Albanese then reflected on the role migration has played in Australia more broadly:

5.7 million people have taken up citizenship since, all with their own story, their own dreams, their own moments of joy and love, sadness and adversity.

Each and every migrant generation has broadened our horizons, deepened our identity and enriched our nation with their hard work, their sense of community and their driving aspiration for their children to enjoy a better life.

This is the promise of Australia. Their story is ours, and today a new chapter begins. For all of you receiving your Australian citizenship, and for all of us, for all Australians to welcome you with open arms and an open heart, I say this – congratulations, happy Australia Day, welcome home.

Updated at 18.42 EST

Eight NSW Rural Fire Service members receive Australia Day honours

‘We push back against constitutional recognition’, speaker says at Sydney Invasion Day rally

Framed by posters saying “vote no to referendum” and “we deserve more than a voice”, organisers have begun the Invasion Day rally in Sydney with a welcome to country.

Surrounded by a strong showing of police, protesters have flowed into Belmore Park in Sydney’s CBD all morning.

Speakers have lined up to remind attendees of the history of Australia and the purpose of todays rally, including reinforcing the importance of recognising Australia’s colonial history.

One of the speakers has addressed the push for constitutional recognition and the referendum for a voice to parliament, saying that “across the east coast, we push back against constitutional recognition”:

This is the voice, they don’t want to hear it, we speak to power everyday and they don’t like it. We will never compromise.

MC Lizzi Jarrett said that neither the Labor government nor the Liberal opposition was “their friend”, adding that the push for a voice to parliament was a “whitewashed” measure:

We already had a referendum in ’67 and it done nothing for our rights, we are the voice. When the vote comes, vote no for a voice. Don’t come here and tick a box.

Updated at 18.29 EST

We have the livestream of the Invasion Day rally in Belmore Park in Sydney playing at the top of the blog for those who want to follow along the speeches and performances.

Updated at 18.11 EST

Invasion Day rally kicks off in Sydney

The first of Australia’s Invasion Day rallies for today has kicked off in Sydney, with thousands expected to march through the streets.

More to come soon from our reporter Mostafa Rachwani who is there.

19,000 people become Australian citizens making country ‘more fair, more prosperous, more equal’, PM says

Albanese goes on to welcome the newest Australians, who are minutes away from becoming citizens:

Today, all over our nation, over 19,000 people from every part of the world, drawn from every faith and every background, will be pledging their loyalty to their new home, to Australia, to our democratic beliefs, to our laws, our values and our people.

Joining our Australian family, joining us as proud citizens of the greatest country on earth, and joining us as partners in the ongoing task of making it greater still – more fair, more prosperous, more equal.

I am honoured to have this chance to personally welcome all of you here to take the pledge of citizenship, hailing from Nigeria, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Iran, Egypt, Malaysia and the United States of America.

Albanese says many of the skills the new citizens bring are essential workers such as community and mental health support workers. He also gives a particular shoutout to the “not one but two astronomers”:

Looking through the list of occupations here today, it is a roll call of the skills that Australia once and we need. Disability, community and mental health support workers, scientists, pharmacists, a mechanical estimator, administrators, cleaners, accountants and customer service professionals, and not one but two astronomers. Welcome! If anyone can help our nation reach for the stars it is you!

Speaking of stars, it is also so special to see the children with you here today as well, our young Australian so full of energy and potential. I want you to know that you are now becoming citizens of a country that, no matter where you live or who you worship, no matter who you love or what your last name is, you can write your own future.

Updated at 18.25 EST

Hello! Natasha May back with you.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has stepped up to speak in Canberra for the national citizenship and flag raising ceremony.

He begins saying:

I am proud to lead a government that is committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, in full, including a constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander s as Australia’s first Peoples.

Changing the way Australia Day is observed significant in lead up to the voice referendum, councillor says

More on AAP’s report that there’s a growing national movement to change the way Australia Day is observed. Dubbo councillor Pam Wells, a Tubba-Gah woman of the Wiradjuri nation, said Wellington’s move to January 25 was significant in the lead-up to a referendum on enshrining an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution.

Now is the opportunity to start planting those seeds across our communities, having the conversation and understanding what a yes or no vote is

We respect people’s choice as long as they understand and are educated and have the opportunity to make an informed choice

I’ve got big dreams and big hopes for a much stronger cultural lens in the regions around connecting with Aboriginal people and making sure the voice is loud and heard and respected