Victoria Stone-Meadows

The Prime Minister has hit back at comments made by Douglas Shire Mayor, Julia Leu, regarding the Australia Day citizenship ceremony dress code.

About a week ago, Prime Minster Scott Morrison announced a new dress code for citizenship ceremonies held on 26 January.

Dubbing himself “the Prime Minister for standards”, the dress code would rule out people wearing board shorts and thongs and require attendees to dress formally for the ceremonies.

On 17 January, Cr Leu released a statement disparaging Mr Morrison’s comments regarding citizen ceremony attire.

“We live in tropical Far North Queensland for goodness sakes – thongs and board shorts are a necessity,” she said.

“Business shirts and ties may be comfortable in an air-conditioned office in Canberra, but try wearing that on a scorching hot day in Port Douglas.

“Seriously, who is going to play the role of fashion police, and for what purpose?”

Cr Leu urged residents of the Douglas Shire to eschew Mr Morrison’s fashion advice and said people’s clothing had never been a problem at previous ceremonies.

“I am urging our new Douglas Shire citizens to slip on your best thongs and boardies for Australia Day in Port Douglas,” she said.

“Ultimately, people should be free to wear whatever they choose for our tropical climate.

“The last thing we want is for our new Douglas citizens to be officially welcomed to Australia in sweaty and uncomfortable fashion.”

However, Mr Morrison has defended his comments while speaking in Cairns on Monday.

“Look, what is important is that people treat the day with respect. I wouldn't go along to my kids' graduation wearing boardies and thongs," he said. 

“I would respect the work they have put in and the seriousness of the day and what they have achieved and I am simply making an obvious point that the code and the guidelines are there to ensure that citizenship and its institution is treated with respect.

“So, if other people want to play games with it and make cheap points about it, they can.”

Federal MP for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, backed the Prime Minister’s comments saying dressing casually is disrespectful to those becoming citizens.

“They all fought very, very hard and worked very hard to earn the right to become citizens of this country and I think even out of respect for the other people that are getting that certificate it is not unreasonable to ask that people be dressed in the appropriate manner,” he said. 

Join in the 2019 Douglas Shire Australia Day celebrations on Saturday.