Citizenship Ceremonies Spark Political Debate Amid Election Concerns in Australia
February 22, 2025
Many of the new citizens hail from electorates where Labor faced significant challenges in the last election, raising concerns about the political timing of the ceremonies.
Thousands of new Australians received citizenship papers during a large ceremony in Sydney, part of a week-long citizenship blitz, where approximately 750 individuals from diverse backgrounds affirmed their citizenship.
Burke defended the ceremonies by highlighting a backlog of individuals awaiting citizenship, with some waiting for as long as 12 months.
Critics argue that the Labor government is strategically granting citizenship to around 12,800 individuals across 25 ceremonies to influence voters in key marginal seats just weeks before an election.
The potential political implications of these ceremonies are significant, as the new citizens could play a role in determining the next prime minister.
The ceremony at Sydney Showground included attendees from various countries, including Iraq, Tonga, and India, reflecting Australia's diverse immigrant population.
Messages from the Australian Electoral Commission during the ceremony emphasized the importance of enrolling to vote, which some attendees found overly focused on voting rather than the citizenship experience.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced a commitment to conduct citizenship ceremonies daily for the next few weeks, marking a significant shift from the usual practice.
Minister Burke reiterated that his focus is on providing citizenship to deserving individuals, irrespective of their voting tendencies or electoral significance.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel criticized the opposition's claims of 'seat stacking' as typical political maneuvering regarding migration.
Burke emphasized the importance of patriotism and the opportunity for new citizens to pledge their commitment to Australia.
Opposition politicians have accused Burke of using these citizenship ceremonies as a platform for electioneering in marginal seats.
Summary based on 2 sources
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
The Sydney Morning Herald • Feb 22, 2025
What it’s like at one of Sydney’s so-called ‘vote-buying’ citizenship ceremonies
news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site • Feb 21, 2025
Minister hits back at ‘not normal’ attendance