3432 ACC Report f/a 1 - Australian Citizenship

Role of Local Government
Since 1954 Local Government has been
making a significant contribution to Australian
Citizenship through the conferral of Citizenship
at Citizenship ceremonies. Public Citizenship
ceremonies have fulfilled an important
symbolic role in the grant of Australian
Citizenship by formally welcoming new
Citizens from many cultures into the Australian
community, with representation from the three
spheres of government.
The acquisition of Australian Citizenship is a
very important milestone in a person’s life and
has traditionally been regarded as an occasion
for celebration. The Council acknowledges and
appreciates the tremendous contribution that
Local Government makes in conducting
Citizenship ceremonies and marking this
important milestone in the lives of new
Citizens. The Council recognises that, with few
exceptions, Local Government councils, both
large and small, conduct ceremonies that are
extremely meaningful for all concerned.
Current guidelines on conducting Citizenship
ceremonies are contained in the handbook
Australian Citizenship Ceremonies — A Guide
for Local Government. The guidelines are
produced by the Department of Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs and have been
developed with a view to promoting the
conferral process as a ceremonial occasion and
as a public affair. The Guide was revised and
enhanced in consultation with the Australian
Local Government Association and re-released
in January 1998. It has been well received by
Local Government.
In submissions to the Council, two Local
Government councils raised the issue of direct
funding of Local Government councils for the
conduct of Citizenship ceremonies. One argued
that increased funding would enable Local
Government councils to ‘further enhance the
occasion for candidates by including other
information and activities’. The other argued
that councils need an adequate level of funding
to allow them to promote and acknowledge
the importance of Citizenship ceremonies.
They point out that areas with higher migrant
populations incur greater costs than those with
lower migrant populations as there is more
frequent demand for ceremonies.
At present, the Commonwealth Government
provides funding to local governing bodies
through States and Territories, in the form of
general purpose grants. The objective of this
assistance is to strengthen Local Government
to enable it to provide a wider range of
services and to promote equity between
councils and certainty of funding.
The Council acknowledges that Local
Government councils place high importance on
their conduct of Citizenship ceremonies and
that they wish to provide the best and most
memorable occasion possible for new
Australian Citizens. The Council recognises
that, with few exceptions, there is a high level
of achievement by Local Government councils
within the existing arrangements, making
ceremonies a special occasion and an event to
be remembered. However, the Council is not
convinced that direct funding for Citizenship
ceremonies would necessarily enhance
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