Australia Day Citizenship Ceremonies

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Treasurer, as the Leader of Government Business, about the achievability of a core Marshall election promise.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: It is now 425 days since the state election poll date. As every member of this council, and no doubt the Treasurer, well knows, in the document of the Marshall then opposition, A Strong Plan for Real Change, they proclaimed:

We're ready.

Over the last four years we've been working hard developing our vision for the future of South Australia.

Not just policies but a series of achievable milestones that have been crafted for the long-term benefit of our state.

One of those was the promise that:

If elected in March 2018, a Marshall Liberal Government will legislate to ensure January 26 continues to be recognised as Australia Day and that local councils hold citizenship ceremonies as part of the celebrations.

We will do this by amending the Local Government Act.

All prospective citizens who have successfully applied should have the right to receive their citizenship during the celebration of Australia Day if they so wish.

The promise went on to say:

A Marshall Liberal Government will take this action recognising that in South Australia the State Government has constitutional responsibility for the affairs of local councils.

My question to the Treasurer is: what constitutional responsibility does the state government have for dictating the date of citizenship ceremonies? Is this election pledge in compliance with the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, and why has the Marshall government chosen not to focus in fact on Australian Citizenship Day, which is coming up sooner?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:00): I am quite happy to refer the substance of those questions to my learned legal colleague the Attorney-General, the Hon. Vickie Chapman. I do not profess to provide legal advice, and I assume that, essentially, these will be issues within her realm of responsibility. All I can say on behalf of the Marshall Liberal government is that we are unabashed, unashamed supporters of Australia Day, and nothing will divert us from that particular intention.

It was a platform we took to the election, and we were overwhelmingly supported by the majority of South Australians in terms of the package, the Strong Plan for Real Change, which we outlined comprehensively prior to the election. In relation to the detail of the legislative response promised by the then opposition, I will, as I said, consult my learned colleague and bring back a reply.