The Federal Government will now force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

The move pushes back against councils who have cancelled Australia Day celebrations because the date is considered offensive to some indigenous people.

Immigration Minister David Coleman says councils who refuse to hold the ceremonies on Australia Day will be stripped of their right to conduct them.

“Apart from very small councils in regional areas where there are very small numbers of new citizens, everyone else will have to hold a ceremony on Australia Day.

“If they don’t, their right to hold citizenship ceremonies would be removed and then the government would step in and hold the ceremonies ourselves.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Image: Getty/Steve Christo