A GREATER number of Australians will be sworn in this week thanks to Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann stepping in to host an additional six citizenship ceremonies.
More than 600 conferees will be formally welcomed as new citizens at the six events to be presided over by Mr Neumann.
He said he had arranged the additional ceremonies in response to the extended wait to attend a ceremony in Ipswich, where events are conducted and organised by Ipswich City Council.
“Wait times appeared to be far greater in Ipswich compared to neighbouring areas,” Mr Neumann said.
He noted that in September, 30% of approved citizenship applicants were told by Ipswich City Council they would have to wait more than six months to attend a ceremony, while 90% of applicants in the City of Gold Coast received an invitation in six or less months, as did 78% in Brisbane City Council.
“With the additional ceremonies I will be hosting, that wait time of six months or more in Ipswich has been brought down to only 2% of approved applicants waiting that long,” Mr Neumann said.
“Citizenship ceremonies are an important opportunity to welcome new citizens formally as full members of the Australian community.
“Ipswich City is one of the fastest growing regions in South East Queensland thanks to land availability and affordability. Ipswich is home to nearly 260,000 residents and is expected to reach more than 480,000 by 2041.
“Regardless of the rapidly growing population, I believe it is unfair to the residents of Ipswich City to have to wait close to a year to become an Australian citizen after being approved for citizenship.
“This is an important and defining moment in many residents’ lives and the current Ipswich City Council appear to be withholding this experience for residents.”
The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of Australian citizenship. On February 3, 1949, seven people from seven nations became the first Australian citizens by conferral at the ceremony held at Albert Hall in Canberra.
