The changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code will force Hepburn Shire Council to move the date of its January citizenship ceremony, which has been held on January 25 for about 20 years. 

Hepburn Shire Council chief executive Evan King said the change would not affect the 2019 January citizenship ceremony, but he will discuss with councillors what it will mean for the shire’s 2020 Australia Day Eve celebrations.

He told The Courier council received a letter from the federal government late last year asking why the shire’s January citizenship ceremony was not held on Australia Day. 

“We wrote back… and said the reasoning for that is each town has its own Australia Day events and if we were to do one major one on Australia Day it would detract from all the others,” he said. 

“We have to consider what it will mean for all the smaller events. Smaller events help with the townships’ identity and bringing community together...It is really a logistical reason why it is on Australia Day Eve, it is not political at all.”

Under changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code to be introduced in the first half of 2019, councils must hold a second citizenship ceremony on September 17 - Australian Citizenship Day.

In the past, Hepburn Shire Council had not pre-set citizenship ceremony dates throughout the year, instead responding to demand. 

The next City of Ballarat citizenship ceremony is scheduled to be held on 26 January. Moorabool Shire Council also holds a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day. 

A strict dress code for citizenship ceremonies will also be introduced under the changes.

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