Published on : Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Territory is proud to welcome more than 160 new citizens at special Territory Day citizenship ceremonies in the Top End and Central Australia today.
“Diversity is part of what makes the Territory so special and this cultural richness has been on full display at citizenship ceremonies in both Darwin and Alice Springs today,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome these new Territorians to our community on the 36th anniversary of Self Government.
“On behalf of the Territory Government and the people of Australia, I congratulate all our new citizens and thank them for the commitment they have made.
“The Territory is a place of opportunity and I’m sure that is part of what has attracted these people from foreign shores to make a new life here.”
Almost 70 people were sworn in at the Darwin Citizenship Ceremony presided over by the Chief Minister, after the traditional Territory Flag Raising Ceremony on the lawns of Parliament House.
These new citizens were from countries including the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, French Guiana, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zimbabwe, India, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan.
“I’m sure they’re all proud new Territorians who’ll make a valuable contribution to their new home. We’re extremely lucky to have these excited new Australians in our community,” Mr Giles said.
At the Alice Springs Town Council, almost 100 adults and children were sworn from countries such as India, Nepal, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Vanuatu, Philippines, Nigeria, Thailand, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Poland.
“It’s great to see these 97 new citizens calling Alice Springs home and what better day to do it than Territory Day,” Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan said.
“The Territory Government is encouraging people to use Territory Day to reflect on what being a Territorian means to them.
“It’s our day and I want Territorians to think about how celebrations might be enhanced next year, including the possibility of a public holiday,” Mr Giles said.
“The Government strongly believes that in future there should be a public holiday to mark this special occasion and I’d like everyone to think about this question as they celebrate today.
“It’s most likely to mean swapping a public holiday and we’d like to hear from Territorians about which one they think should move.”
Tags: Northern Territory, Territory Day
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