Mike Kelly welcomes new citizens on Australia Day

Date:  30 January 2012

On Australia Day, Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, welcomed 19 people from who became Australian citizens in Queanbeyan as part of Australia Day celebrations. 

“I was honoured to personally welcome Eden-Monaro’s newest citizens and wish them well as they made the pledge to officially join the Australian family,” Dr Kelly said.

“Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant step that shows commitment and loyalty to this great nation.”

Australia Day is the most popular day of the year to become a citizen, with around 13,700 people from 144 countries attending 365 special ceremonies across Australia. 

Almost 3,000 people from 101 countries became citizens in 95 ceremonies across New South Wales, from Mullumbimby in the north to Merimbula in the south and Mudgee in the west.  

The oldest conferee is 83 years old and the youngest is one.

“On behalf of the Australian Government I would like to welcome our newest citizens and wish them the very best as they share in our country’s future,” said Dr Kelly.

More than four million people from 200 countries have chosen to become Australian citizens since the first citizenship ceremony in 1949, including more than one million in the past decade and close to 100,000 in the past year.

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