Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has reportedly been doing a pre-election blitz of citizenship ceremonies in crucial Western Sydney seats.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Burke’s department will host 25 pre-election ceremonies, bestowing citizenship to over 12,000 people before March 4.
This includes a three-day citizenship ceremony bonanza at the Sydney Olympic Park this weekend, where as many as 6,000 people will become Australians.
The paper reported that the move – in particular Mr Burke’s personal involvement – was ‘unprecedented’ as the ceremonies are normally organised by local councils.
Mr Burke has been pictured at at least two citizenship ceremonies in Western Sydney in recent days.
On Tuesday, Mr Burke was pictured at ceremony grinning alongside Blacktown mayor Brad Bunting where he addressed the 200-plus crowd of new citizens and their families.
The following night, he appeared alongside independent Fowler MP Dai Le at a ceremony held at Casula Powerhouse Museum, where 260 new citizens were welcomed to the City of Liverpool.
Ms Le told Daily Mail Australia that she had been ‘attending citizenship ceremonies for a decade and have never seen a Minister at one’.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has reportedly been doing a pre-election blitz of citizenship ceremonies in crucial Western Sydney seats (pictured: Mr Burke addresses new citizens at a ceremony in Blacktown on Tuesday)
‘Minister Burke told me that he is going to conduct citizenship ceremonies every day for the next couple of weeks,’ Ms Le added.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs James Paterson has now demanded an explanation from Labor for the unprecedented surge in ceremonies just before an election is due.
‘Tony Burke must explain why, at the eleventh hour before an election, the Home Affairs Department, under his direction, has uncharacteristically and suddenly assumed control of citizenship ceremonies across Western Sydney,’ Senator Paterson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He should also explain what led to the apparent focus on the Western Sydney area over others and exactly how much taxpayer money has been spent on this pet project of his.
‘The citizenship process should never be used for political gain, but unfortunately, without clarification from the Minister, that appears to be the case here.’
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone accused Mr Burke of attempting to shore up more votes for Labor in crucial seats.
‘You would have to assume that the only reason why they’re doing this is to do a photo op and to try and give people as many citizenship as possible, trying to influence their vote,’ Cr Carbone told the Daily Telegraph.
‘Citizenship is about pledging allegiance to Australia and its people, not allegiance to a political party, or Minister, because they turn up a few weeks before an election, for a photo shoot.’
On Wednesday, he appeared alongside independent Fowler Dai Le MP at ceremony held at Casula Powerhouse Museum where 260 new citizens were welcomed to the City of Liverpool (pictured)
Liverpool mayor, Ned Mannoun, who was in attendance at the citizenship ceremony with Ms Le on Wednesday, said Mr Burke was handing out certificates ‘one by one’.
‘It’s the first time we’ve had such an honour, and we’re glad that he’s taken interest,’ Mr Mannoun said.
Blacktown mayor Brad Bunting, said it had been a ‘pleasure’ to welcome Mr Burke to the LGA for Tuesday’s citizenship ceremony.
‘We understand that the Minister is visiting councils across the country, and we were thrilled that Blacktown City, one of the largest and most populous cities in Australia, was among his first stops,’ he said.
‘Blacktown City is the largest council in NSW by population, home to 435,000 people. Our city is incredibly diverse, with over 180 nationalities represented and languages spoken.’
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone accused Mr Burke of attempting to shore up more votes for Labor in crucial seats (pictured: new citizens and their families in Blacktown)
Blacktown Council has 18 ceremonies scheduled for this year, with each accommodating up to 800 new citizens.
That means the Western Sydney LGA could welcome 7,200 new people as citizens this year alone.
Daily Mail Australia approached Mr Burke’s office for further comment.
The election must be held on or before May 17.