Response from Department of Home Affairs
Thank you for your email, the contents of which the Department confirm receipt.
From what I can glean from the below emails, it appears that Christian is seeking certain information held by
the Department of Home Affairs under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
Christian is at liberty to lodge an FOI application with the Department of Home Affairs. Information relating
to lodging an FOI request with the Department can be found at the fol owing link:
How to make a FOI request (homeaffairs.gov.au)
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Samuel
Team Leader – NSW Ceremonies
NSW Citizenship – Sydney Office
Citizenship Program Delivery Branch
Social Cohesion and Citizenship Group
Department of Home Affairs
Mayoral Minutes (2)
Council Meeting
14 September 2021
Item No: C0921(2) Item 24
Subject: MAYORAL MINUTE: MOVE CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES ONLINE TO ADDRESS BACKLOG
From: The Mayor, Councillor Rochelle Porteous
MOTION:
THAT Council immediately initiates virtual online Citizenship Ceremonies to address the backlog.
Background
Inner West Council currently has 1137 outstanding applicants for citizenship. Five Citizenship Ceremonies
have been cancelled fol owing the latest lockdown due to COVID 19 restrictions.
It is proposed to initiate virtual ceremonies, similar to ceremonies already being conducted at other councils,
such as the City of Sydney as soon as possible.
It is understood that originally the Department of Home Affairs advised at the beginning of the lockdown
that they were able to conduct virtual ceremonies. This is what occurred during the lockdown in 2020.
People seeking citizenship through the Mayor’s Office were therefore referred to the Department for virtual
ceremonies however it would appear these are not happening as many Greater Sydney Councils now have
significant backlogs.
The Department of Home Affairs have indicated that they will require 2 weeks’ notice for a Ceremony to be
conducted.
ATTACHMENTS
Nil.
Council Meeting
23 November 2021
Item No: C1121(2) Item 16
Subject: MAYORAL MINUTE: THANK YOU
From: The Mayor, Councillor Rochelle Porteous
MOTION:
THAT Council thank all Councillors, staff and community members for their commitment and dedication to
our community and their service on the Inner West Council.
Background
Tonight, we mark the last meeting of the four-year first term of Inner West Council. I want to acknowledge
just some of what we achieved together – staff, community members and Council ors and to thank everyone
for the contribution they have made.
We have worked hard in often difficult circumstances to deliver significant environmental, social, cultural,
economic and civic outcomes for the Inner West community.
Together we stood with the community and faced the chal enges of COVID-19 while providing
unprecedented support to those who were most affected. In both years of the pandemic, Council al ocated
$250,000 to 10 local organisations enabling direct assistance to vulnerable people. We provided extra
funding to support local businesses, created arts resilience grants and are now implementing support for the
local hospitality sector. We continued to deliver frontline services to the community throughout the
lockdowns, and we were one of the first councils to offer Libraries click and collect services.
In mid-September, because of the lockdown, we had 1,130 people waiting to become Australian citizens. We
couldn’t run in person citizenship ceremonies but found out that we could run small online ceremonies of
approximately 45 people instead so every Monday evening and some weekends we have been running
online citizenship ceremonies. I want to thank the great work and dedication of Council staff – Denise, Grace
and Kim in making this happen. We wil have given almost 1,000 residents citizenship in the last 2 months by
next week.
ATTACHMENTS
Nil.
Document Outline
