FILE PHOTO: Passengers aboard a ferry wear hats shaped in the form of sharks and wear Australian national flags on their shoulders as they participate in celebrations for Australia Day, which marks the arrival of Britain's First Fleet in 1788, on Sydney Harbour in Australia, January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Steven Saphore
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's federal government has ordered local governments to hold naturalization ceremonies for new citizens on Australia Day amid controversy over the holiday, which some claim is offensive to its indigenous people.
The government is proposing that all local government bodies in Australia, typically referred to as councils, must hold induction ceremonies for new citizens on the Australia Day holiday on Jan. 26 and the Australian Citizenship Day holiday on Sept. 17 or have their authorisation revoked, Immigration Minister David Coleman said in an emailed statement on Sunday.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
