The Department of Home Affairs is to mark Australian Citizenship Day today (17 September) by welcoming record numbers of new citizens at ceremonies around the nation.
In a statement, the Department said Australian citizenship officially became law 70 years ago and since then more than five million people had become Australians at citizenship ceremonies.
“This Australian Citizenship Day, more than 8,000 people are expected to become Australian citizens, the largest number ever for Australian Citizenship Day,” the Department said.
It said the record numbers were largely due to its efforts to reduce the citizenship application processing times.
It said Australian Citizenship Day was established in 2001 in response to a recommendation by the Australian Citizenship Council.
“The date, 17 September, was chosen as Australian Citizenship Day as it is the anniversary of the renaming, in 1973, of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948,” the Department said.
“Since 2001, the Department and Local Councils promote this day by holding special citizenship ceremonies, affirmation ceremonies and other events around the country.”
It said Australia was a thriving multicultural country.
“Whether we are Australians by birth or by choice, our Australian citizenship is our shared identity. It is a common bond that unites us all,” the Department said.