Monarchists Support Government's Citizenship Ceremonies Code

The Australian Monarchist League welcomes the decision of the Launceston City Council to back down from its intention to hold citizenship ceremonies on a date other than the 26th of January.  We commend the Australian government for its Citizenship Ceremonies Code, requiring all but the smallest of councils to hold their Australia Day citizenship ceremonies on the 26th of January.

Australia Day, earlier called Foundation Day, has been officially celebrated since 1818 to mark the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson in 1788 and the raising of the British Flag at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.

The fact is, whatever day this anniversary is celebrated on will not change the fact that the British arrived at Botany Bay on the 24th January and then established a settlement at Sydney Cove on the 26th of January 1788.

Whilst admittedly some bad things followed, far more was achieved for the good of this country for that small settlement of less than 1,500 men women and children evolved into the nation of Australia within a relatively short time.

Today all Australians, whether their families go back in this country for thousands of years, for one or two hundred years or whether they are recent arrivals, are equal citizens with equal rights and equal duties and are a part of the Australian nationhood.  Any attempt to divide by race or religion is an attempt to destroy our Australian nationhood and should not be allowed. 

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