A WA Greens Senator has offered to officiate citizenship ceremonies scheduled for January 26, after the Turnbull Government threatened to strip a second local council's hosting rights if they choose to "change the date".
The City of Yarra on Tuesday became the second local government in the nation to refuse the celebration of Australia Day, and the Turnbull government responded by stripping city officials of their citizenship powers.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the decision as an "attack" on Australia Day, and said the council would be punished accordingly.
"Any local council that breaches its duties under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code can have its authorisation to conduct citizenship ceremonies revoked," he said.
Previously, the City of Fremantle famously became the first Australian local government to cancel all celebrations of Australia Day on the January 26 public holiday, and instead shifted the date to January 28.
In December last year, the Turnbull government also banned the City of Fremantle from holding citizenship ceremonies "under any circumstances" at its "culturally-inclusive alternative event" on January 28.
The City was forced to back down following the threat, after Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke sent a blunt letter to the council regarding the planned citizenship ceremonies.
"I hereby advise that the City of Fremantle cannot hold a citizenship ceremony on 28 January under any circumstances in light of the way the council has presented the ceremony as being part of your One Day in Fremantle event described as an alternative to traditional Australia Day celebrations," he wrote.
"Notwithstanding your assurances that the ceremony would be held with due formality and dignity with no political comment being made at the ceremony, the fact is that the council promulgated its 'One Day' event on its website, flyers and in the invitation letter issued to perspective conferees for the associated ceremony.
"I therefore consider that should a ceremony proceed on this day it would be a serious breach of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code with respect to ceremonies being apolitical."
WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has since hit out at the Federal Government's attempts to step in on the debate, and said if the Coalition was to make good on its threats to strip local councils of their right to host the ceremonies, she would officiate them herself.
"I have the right to officiate any citizenship ceremony and will happily to do so for any council that is bullied by Malcolm Turnbull's Government in Western Australia," she said.
Senator Siewert said colleague and member for Melbourne Adam Bandt had conducted inquiries into the matter of the Yarra Council, which found Senators had the right to officiate citizenship ceremonies if they wished.
"When the City of Fremantle supported changing the date for Australia Day, the Federal Government exercised incredible overreach and threatened to strip the City's capacity to hold citizenship ceremonies," she said.
"The same has now been applied to the City of Yarra and will no doubt continue as more local councils bravely move to make Australia Day more inclusive.
"I am happy to engage in a discussion with any WA local council, and will happily ensure that it is in the council's electorate, with all councillors invited to attend.
"It should not have got to the point where local councils are having to stand up and move towards a day where everyone is welcome to celebrate Australia, there should have been Federal leadership.
"To WA councils considering the move but worried about backlash from the Federal Government, I urge them not to be intimidated".
City of Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt said while the council acknowledged Senator Siewert's offer, the city had chosen to stand alongside the Federal Government in its decision.
"This year the City of Fremantle decided to hold a community event on January 28 because we thought it would be a more inclusive date where everyone could come together and celebrate what is great about being Australian," he said.
"We had originally intended to hold a citizenship ceremony as part of this event to give new citizens the opportunity to join this celebration, but when the Federal government objected we agreed to change the citizenship ceremony to January 26.
"The City acknowledges that we represent the Federal government when it comes to citizenship ceremonies and we will host a citizenship ceremony on January 26 in accordance with their wish."
Senator Siewert's announcement comes after the news three other Victorian councils - Moreland, Darebin and Hepburn Shire - were debating whether to follow the lead of Yarra Council.
