Posted on September 21, 2011
Since 2001, Citizenship Day has been celebrated annually in Australia on the 17th September.
On this day, new citizens make the Australian Citizenship Pledge at various citizenship ceremonies around the country.
However, the day also provides an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate Australian citizenship and reflect on what unites us in our culturally diverse nation.
Becoming an Australian citizen entitles people to fully participate in building our nation and shaping our future – citizens are entitled to vote, seek election to Parliament and apply for work in the Australian Public Service and the Australian Defence Force.
As citizens, we have a responsibility to obey Australian laws, vote in elections and uphold Australian values and principles.
In return, governments have a responsibility to look after citizens. People become Australian citizens because they want to embrace the values that this country stands for – security, democracy, freedom and economic opportunity - and it is up to governments to protect and promote these values.
Over the years, the number and diversity of people becoming Australian citizens has increased greatly.
In 1949, during the first year of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, 2,493 people from 35 different nationalities were granted Australian citizenship.
In 2009-10, 119,791 people were granted Australian citizenship from over 185 countries. 19.1% of these new citizens were from the UK, but the second-largest population of new citizens were from India.
This year, more than 4,000 people from 115 countries became Australian citizens on Citizenship Day. I congratulate and warmly welcome everyone who became a part of the Australian community at these citizenship ceremonies and wish them well as they start their new life here.