Speaker welcomes new citizens
2 December 2015 | Canberra, Australia | Feature
Last night Speaker of the Assembly Vicki Dunne MLA hosted over 100 new Australian citizens to celebrate their recent citizenship and welcome them to their Assembly.
The Speaker's eitizenship evenings are hosted several times a year and provide an opportunity for residents who have recently received Australian citizenship to learn more about the ACT's system of government, tour the Assembly building, and meet their local members. Brendan Smyth MLA, Chris Bourke MLA and Alistair Coe MLA joined Speaker Dunne in celebrate Canberra's newest citizens.
"These evenings are one of the great parts of my job and it was wonderful to meet with new Australians from so many different walks of life," Mrs Dunne said.
"To have so many people from all parts of the world, from different cultures and creeds, joining us in their local parliament with such interest and enthusiasm is always humbling."
The Speaker's citizenship evening program began during former Speaker Wayne Berry's term in office, and was pioneered under his guidance. With building modifications taking place from early in the new year, the next citizenship evening won't be held until late 2016.