Rockingham council endorses date change for Australia Day citizenship ceremonies

Rockingham councillors have voted to change the date of citizenship ceremonies following advice from the city’s Aboriginal Advisory Group. The council met with the Aboriginal Advisory Group in April to discuss changing the date of community events that have traditionally been held on Australia Day, including citizenship ceremonies. The group supported the decision and viewed it as a “step forward for the City of Rockingham”. After agreeing to the change at the council meeting last week, the city’s citizenship ceremonies will now be held on the nearest Saturday to January 26. In the event the 26th falls on a Saturday, ceremonies will be held on the Sunday. Councillor Robert Schmidt said the change was a “major step for the city in its march towards reconciliation with our First Nations people”. “This is also the first time in the history of this city council that it has sought the advice and endorsement of the City of Rockingham Aboriginal Advisory Group,” he said. Councillor Lorna Buchan said the change will most importantly reflect the wishes of “First Nations people in our community”. Mayor Deb Hamblin said although the motion was only for the change of date to citizenship ceremonies, the city is also looking at changing the date of future Australia Day celebrations. “In the next few months, the intention is to put forward a notice of motion to advocate to the Federal Government to have a (new) national date,” she said. The change will come into affect in January 2024.