Peter Dutton announces huge Australia Day overhaul: ‘We live in the greatest country in the world’

Peter Dutton has promised to reinstate the mandatory requirement for councils across the country to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

The Opposition Leader slammed Anthony Albanese’s approach to the national day celebrations, accusing the Prime Minister of allowing January 26 to become ‘something to be ashamed of’.

‘Would we reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day?’, Mr Dutton told reporters on Monday.

‘You bet it’ll be done in the first 100 days, and it will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country.’

Mr Dutton said he believed Australis was the ‘greatest country in the world’.

‘I’m incredibly proud of Australians and who we are. I’m proud of our Indigenous heritage,’ he added. 

‘I’m very proud of our migrant story, and I’m very proud of the fact that we are a country that should stand up and protect and defend its values.’

In late 2022, the Labor government scrapped the previous rule which mandated that councils held citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

In late 2022, the Labor government scrapped the previous rule which mandated that councils held citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. It led to over 80 councils opting against holding the citizenship ceremonies on 26 January last year

Mr Albanese insisted there were ‘no changes here’ but it led to over 80 councils last year deciding to scrap citizenship ceremonies on January 26. 

He was accused of a ‘cop-out’ in burdening council’s with the politically-sensitive decision. 

But Opposition Leader Mr Dutton has now made clear that, if elected, the coalition will reinstate the old rule. 

‘So the Prime Minister sent a signal to those councils that Australia Day didn’t matter, but that’s exactly what it did,’ Mr Dutton said.  

Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.

But, for many First Nations people, it is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’.

A recent poll, conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), found that 69 per cent of 1,002 respondents agreed that the national public holiday should remain on January 26 – a six point increase from 12 months ago. 

The poll also found 86 per cent of respondents were ‘proud to be Australian’ while 68 per cent agreed that Australia has ‘a history to be proud of’.

IPA deputy executive Director Daniel Wild said the results demonstrated a shift in the vibe and energy surrounding Australia Day.

‘It is clear that mainstream Australians have had a gutful of this attitude and being put upon by the elites,’ Mr Wild said.

‘The 26th of January is more than just a date, it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country.’