Local councils hold multiple citizenship ceremonies throughout the year,but the Morrison edict forced councils to hold at least one on January 26.

A number of new citizens at the ceremony were unaware of the date change and were focused on the momentous occasion of becoming a citizen of Australia.

Ailene Leswe,39,from the Philippines said becoming a citizen on Tuesday felt like “home”.

She and her husband Leo both became citizens on Tuesday night,deciding to make Australia their permanent home after the birth of their eight-month-old baby Alex.

“It’s really different from back home because it feels safe. And you can see there is a future here – especially for Alex,” said Ailene.

“Compared to back home,this country is very friendly,people are polite and nice,” said Leo. “For me this is a really special occasion.”

Uncle Andrew Gardiner of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation conducted a Welcome to Country at the ceremony,and toldThe Ageholding the ceremony two days before Australia Day was much easier for him personally,and his community.

“It’s important because I don’t have to have any mourning thoughts[today about] the tragedies that occurred in the past,” he said. “Today is a day celebrating citizenship for people that are wanting to become citizens in the country and I feel much more welcoming of people,bringing them into the community and including them in the broader population[today].

“From the Wurundjeri and the general community’s perspective,the new Merri-bek Council has shown great leadership and intestinal fortitude[and] courage for them to actually take the challenge on.”

New Merri-bek Mayor Angelica Panopoulos said the night was “first and foremost” about the new chapter of her constituents’ lives,but said Tuesday’s historic ceremony was “extra special” because it wasn’t on January 26.

“We actually get to choose a day to have this ceremony,that listens to our community and that empowers us to make a decision that’s right for us,and we don’t have this joyous occasion tainted by what January 26 really means.”

Merri-bek was the first council to test the policy under the Albanese government,and,weeks later,federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles overturned the ban,allowing councils to hold the ceremonies between January 23 and 29.

While other Victorian councils,such as the City of Greater Geelong,Shepparton,Whittlesea and Surf Coast Shire,have flagged their interest in moving ceremonies from January 26,those councils toldThe Age the policy change came too late into preparations for the 2023 celebrations and a change would be considered for the 2024 ceremonies.

In NSW,the City of Sydney said this week it wouldmove its January 26 ceremony to Friday.

The Hobart City Council also voted to move ceremonies from Australia Day,but the change won’t come into effect until next year.

Prominent companies and organisations have distanced themselves from Australia Day since the government’s policy change by allowing their employees to take an alternative day off if they felt uncomfortable celebrating January 26.

The federal opposition has criticised the government for overturning the Australia Day ceremony rule,with immigration and citizenship spokesman Dan Tehan saying Labor had bowed to councils.

“Make no mistake,this is Labor laying the groundwork to abolish January 26 as Australia Day despite Anthony Albanese promising during the election campaign that Labor had no plans to change the date of our national day,” he said.

The prime minister has said many times that there are no plans for changing the date of Australia Day.

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