The timing of the announcement by Australian Prime Minister and Liberal MP for Cook Scott Morrison concerning a new code for citizenship ceremonies was probably was probably meant to distract the national electorate from the sight of the ecological disaster occurring along the Murray-Darling Basin river systems.
Instead it irritated a great many voters four months out from the federal election and reminded ratepayers that he expected them to foot the bill for mandatory citizenship ceremonies to be held on 26 January every year from 2020 onwards.
Australian
Local Government Association,
media release, 13 January 2018:
FEDS' COERCIVE APPROACH
TO AUSTRALIA DAY CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES HEAVY-HANDED
Today’s announcement by
the Federal Government to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on
Australia Day as a response to the debate to change the date of this national
holiday is heavy-handed and odd, according to the Australian Local Government
Association (ALGA), the peak body representing local government and councils
Australia-wide.
ALGA President, Mayor
David O’Loughlin, said that most councils likely won’t be opposed to the
Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies
Code but councils will have valid concerns, not excuses, that will need to be
addressed.
“The priviledge of
Australian citizenship is highly respected by the Australian community and
councils value their role in holding citizenship ceremonies and being a part of
this important commitment,” Mayor O’Loughlin said.
“However, most councils hold more than one citizenship
ceremony a year, some as often as monthly. The Federal Government’s strong
focus on drawing a link between Australia Day and citizenship ceremonies is
bizarre.
“If the Federal Government had bothered to consult with
us in the development of this policy, they would have heard that in some
locations, it’s simply too hot for councils to hold ceremonies during the day,
so they do it the evening before, just as the Federal Government does with its
Australian of the Year Ceremony.
“Other councils combine their citizenship ceremonies with
their local Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards which are often held in
the week before Australia Day, just as many of the State and Territory
Governor’s do with their Australia Day Awards ceremonies.
“It would make more
sense for the Federal Government to insist on local, state and their own level
of government holding events to celebrate Australia Day Honours and Citizens of
the Year on Australia Day, rather than only insisting on local councils holding
a citizenship ceremony on the 26th of January, especially given Citizenship Day
is the 17th of September, months after Australia Day.
“We do acknowledge that a small number of councils are in
discussions with their communities about whether the 26th of January is the
appropriate day to celebrate Australia Day.
“However, councils cannot move Australia Day - this is
ultimately up to the Federal Government – but it is our job to be responsive to
our communities, including to their calls for prudence and advocacy.”
ALGA has responded to the Federal Government’s strong
commitment to change the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code with calls for
it to show an equally strong commitment to assist councils with issues – such
as cost – that may come with holding the ceremonies on Australia Day.
“There are significant additional event and staff costs
associated with holding citizenship ceremonies on a public holiday, which is
why some councils sensibly choose to hold it on a weekday instead,” Mayor
O’Loughlin said.
“Interestingly, the Federal Government has made no
mention of any financial contribution towards the additional costs involved in
running these ceremonies - ceremonies conducted on behalf of the Federal
Government - instead opting to continue a pattern of cost-shifting to councils.
“There is very real pressure on council budgets
nationally and the Federal Government must put their money where their mouth is
if they are serious about their proposal.
“The Federal Government
must lift its core funding to local government, Financial Assistance Grants
(FAGs), back to 1% of Commonwealth Taxation Revenue (CTR) – levels last seen in
1996.
“This funding has been
in steady decline for the past 20 years and, unless the Federal Government does
something to fix it, today’s announcement will be seen as just another
cost-shifting tactic.
“Our local and diverse
communities matter, and so do their pools, beaches, libraries, sporting
grounds, parks and the safety of their local roads. Therefore the 1% funding to
local governments and local communities should be of far more importance to the
Federal Government.”
Further information
about ALGA’s call to restore Financial Assistance Grants to 1% of CTR is
available on www.allpoliticsislocal.com.au [my yellow highlighting]
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