The federal government has revised the citizenship code to make it compulsory for all councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
Under changes to the to be introduced in 2020, councils will also have to hold a second citizenship ceremony on September 17 - Australian Citizenship Day - and new citizens will have to abide by a strict dress code that bans boardshorts and thongs.
The revised code will be sent to councils this week, Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister David Coleman announced.
"Australian citizenship is an immense privilege and fundamental to our national identity," Mr Coleman said.
AAP
"As part of this update, the government will require that citizenship ceremonies be held on Australia Day across the nation.
"New citizens should be given the opportunity to become an Australian on our national day - Australia Day is an incredibly important part of our national calendar."
On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government will "protect our national day and ensure it is respected".
"We believe all councils who are granted the privilege of conducting citizenship ceremonies should be required to conduct a ceremony on Australia Day," he told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
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