2.3.2 Promotion of the value of Australian citizenship

Objectives

Under this component a program is implemented which promotes the value of Australian citizenship and encourages eligible non-citizens to become Australian citizens.

Description

This output component promotes the value of Australian citizenship among the Australian community and the acquisition of Australian citizenship by eligible non-citizens.

Performance

Departmental promotion of Australian citizenship continued through public relations activities throughout the year. A public information campaign to inform the Australian community of the new citizenship test was launched on 17 September 2007 and put on hold on 14 October 2007 in accordance with federal election caretaker conventions.

Major citizenship ceremonies held in 2007–08 included:

• an inaugural citizenship ceremony held under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 at the Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame on 1 July 2007
• a series of ceremonies throughout the country on Australian Citizenship Day (17 September 2007) when more than 1700 people became new citizens. The day was also marked with the official presentation of the Australian Citizenship Quilts to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra
• a total of 321 ceremonies around the nation on Australia Day 2008 when more than 14 000 people from 114 countries became Australian citizens. Several ceremonies gained local, regional and national media coverage, including:
  • Sky News coverage of the Prime Minister presiding over a ceremony at Regatta Point, Canberra
  • the broadcast of a number of ceremonies held around the nation
  • three Perth councils combining to stage the second largest citizenship ceremony ever held, with 1313 people personally conferred citizenship by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
• an ‘on-court’ citizenship ceremony for Perth Wildcats basketball player, Shawn Redhage, prior to the start of an NBL game on 12 January 2008
• a citizenship ceremony at the Albert Hall in Canberra coinciding with the historic building’s 80th birthday celebrations on 10 March 2008.

The department continued its partnership with the National Australia Day Council to promote Australian citizenship through:

• sponsorship of Australia’s Local Hero Award as part of the Australian of the Year Awards, which included eight state and territory events and culminated in the national award announcements televised live on the eve of Australia Day
• a citizenship and affirmation ceremony partnership with Sky News Australia which included the live television broadcast of the Australia Day citizenship ceremony in Canberra, coverage of citizenship ceremonies in seven locations which featured in Sky News coverage on Australia Day 2008, and a highlights package for future promotional purposes
• Australian affirmation resource packs distributed to about 780 local Australia Day council committees
• a national radio series, Celebrate What’s Great, featuring high profile or eminent Australians reflecting on what they celebrate on Australia Day, including responses to the Australian affirmation
• a citizenship/affirmation page on the Australia Day website providing information on how to conduct an Australian citizenship affirmation ceremony, highlighting the significance of Australian citizenship for Australia Day, and providing details on ordering community resource kits.