Australia welcomes more than 14 000 new citizens
Saturday, 26 January 2008
More than 14 000 people from 114 countries will become Australian citizens at 321 Australia Day events around the nation this year.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the new citizens would join more than four million others who had become Australian citizens when Australian Citizenship was introduced in 1949.
Last Australia Day, 12 500 people from 111 countries became Australian citizens with a record 169 123 people taking the pledge during the 2006-07 financial year.
Senator Evans said that making the citizenship pledge was an important step in marking the beginning of life as an Australian citizen.
'Becoming an Australian citizen shows commitment and loyalty to this country and a desire to share in our common future,' Senator Evans said.
'This year’s Australia Day citizenship ceremonies range from small events in remote areas for single conferees to one of the nation’s largest ever citizenship ceremonies to be held in my home state of Western Australia.
'I look forward to welcoming more than 1300 new Australian citizens at this ceremony in the northern suburbs of Perth.'
Senator Evans said Australia had been enriched by the cultures and traditions of the people from more than 200 countries who had come to Australia.
'The common bond that unites us all is citizenship,' Senator Evans added.
The first citizenship ceremony took place in February 1949 at Albert Hall in Canberra, where seven conferees represented the six states and the Australian Capital Territory.
State by state:
- About 14 000 people from 114 countries will become Australian citizens at 321 Australia Day events around the nation this year.
- Not all ‘Australia Day ceremonies’ are held on January 26 - DIAC figures include ceremonies held on the days around Australia Day.
- The largest Australia Day ceremony this year is in the City of Stirling in Perth in Western Australia where more than 1300 people will become citizens.
- More than 2600 people from about 75 countries will become Australian citizens at 50 Australia Day events around Western Australia.
- More than 1000 people from more than 40 countries will become Australian citizens at more than 30 Australia Day events around South Australia.
- More than 90 people from about 20 countries will become Australian citizens are seven Australia Day events around the Northern Territory.
- More than 3000 people from about 74 countries will become Australian citizens at 72 Australia Day events around Queensland.
- More than 100 people from 38 countries will become Australian citizens at the Australian Capital Territory’s traditional Australian Day citizenship ceremony held for more than 20 consecutive years at Regatta Point.
- More than 3300 people from about 56 countries will become Australian citizens at 71 Australia Day events around NSW.
- More than 3300 people from about 50 countries will become Australian citizens at more than 60 Australia Day events around Victoria this year.
- More than 270 people from more than 40 countries will become Australian citizens at 17 Australia Day events around Tasmania.
- More than four million people have become Australian citizens since 1949 when Australian Citizenship was introduced.
- At the first citizenship ceremony 3 February 1949 at Albert Hall Canberra, seven conferees represented the six states and the Australian Capital Territory.
- A record 169 123 people became Australian citizens during 2006-07 financial year.
- On Australia Day 2007, 12 500 people from 111 countries became Australian citizens at 280 Australia Day ceremonies.
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2008/ce08008.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST