The Turnbull government has sent a stern warning to Fremantle council to move its Australia Day celebrations back to January 26 or be banned from hosting citizenship celebrations.
The council caused outrage in August when canned its traditional Australia Day fireworks and then angered both the Barnett and Turnbull governments when it announced a "culturally-inclusive alternative event" on January 28 instead.
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Indigenous elders confront 6PR's Adam Shand
A group of elders speak with 6PR Drive Presenter Adam Shand about his views on Fremantle moving Australia Day celebrations.
Fremantle council's decision also caused a storm on social media, with thousands of people venting their anger at the city on the WAtoday Facebook page.
Now Assistant Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke has written to the City of Fremantle, threatening to stop it holding any citizenship ceremonies unless celebrations were moved back to January 26.
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"The government takes a dim view of Fremantle council's decision to cancel their Australia Day events on political grounds," he told the Fremantle Herald.
"The government's firm position is that citizenship ceremonies are non-commercial, apolitical, partisan and secular and must not be used as forums for political, partisan or religious expression.
"If Fremantle council is found to be in breach of the code, I have the power to revoke Fremantle council's ability to preside over citizenship ceremonies under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007."
Newly-elected Tangney Liberal MP Ben Morton was the one who wrote to the Turnbull government calling for ministerial intervention.
"Having your citizenship conferred to you on Australia Day is very, very, special," he told the Herald.
"The actions of Freo council will deny that very special occasion to our new citizens, it's a disgrace.
"I want a reconciled council, and when we focus on issues confronting our Indigenous Australians we should focus on those issues that will make a difference to their lives, like Aboriginal incarceration, health, alcoholism, and employment."
Earlier in the week, Aboriginal elders were finally able to have their say on the fireworks ban.
Respected elder Robert Eggington said the group of elders were never silent; rather, nobody outside of the Fremantle council asked them for their opinion, he claims.
Mr Eggington, from Dumbartung – a Nyoongah grass roots advocacy agency – then posted a picture of dozens of elders meeting with Fremantle council in September to quash rumours leaders in the Aboriginal community were never consulted.
"I think it was the right time to post the photo," he said.
"I just wanted to prove that 'yes there was a meeting' and there were senior elders and Nyoongah people there and that is where we decided to ban the fireworks display.
"I haven't met an Aboriginal person who didn't support the decision and the Aboriginal elders spoke to thousands of people in their families and they didn't agree with the fireworks on Australia Day.
"It's a clarification of history, because celebrating the day the first gunshots ploughed our blood into the earth is horrific for Aboriginal people."
On Wednesday, an angry mob of Aboriginal protesters rallied outside Radio 6PR over allegations the broadcaster was being racist about the council's decision to move the celebrations to January 28.
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