Citizenship ceremonies set for return to local government

Local government councils have been told they can resume hosting in-person citizenship ceremonies if they meet strict health conditions.

These include abiding by state and territory-defined allowable gathering sizes, ensuring all attendees keep a 1.5 metre distance from each other, and providing tissues, hand-washing facilities, and hand sanitiser.

Councils will also have to develop a CovidSafe plan detailing how each of six mandated conditions will be met.

The Federal Department of Home Affairs emailed the new requirements to mayors and citizenship ceremony organisers on Tuesday.

On-line forms are to be completed and returned to the department before the first in-person citizenship ceremony is held.

The directions do not apply to online citizenship ceremonies.

Last month, Home Affairs emailed mayors inviting them to register their councils’ interest in conducting virtual citizenship ceremonies.

As of 8 June, 10 councils had conducted such ceremonies.