Liverpool City Council celebrates Citizenship Day

Liverpool City Council has joined the country’s Citizenship Day celebrations with a special ceremony conferring citizenship on 16 members of the community on Thursday.

The annual event is held on 17 September across Australia as a way of prompting all Australians to reflect on the meaning and importance of Australian citizenship.

“Whether by birth or choice, Australian citizenship is the bond that unites us all and comes with many privileges and responsibilities,” Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said.

“Citizenship Day allows us to remember those values we hold so dear as Australian citizens – a fair go for all, respect for the freedom and dignity of others and equality before the law, regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnic background.

“It is always a delight to preside over a Citizenship Ceremony, but on an occasion like Citizenship Day, there really is a special kind of joy to the event.”

The Ceremony was held with full COVID-safe social distancing and hygiene measures in place at Liverpool’s Greenway Recreation Centre on Thursday 17 September.

The newly conferred Australian citizens are among more than 1500 new citizens made welcome in Liverpool this year. Citizenship Day was established in 2001, to allow all Australians to celebrate their Australian citizenship.

The date 17 September was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the renaming in 1973 of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act.

Since 1948, Australia has welcomed more than 5 million people from across the world as new citizens.