Premier Roger Cook to attend City of Joondalup’s Australia Day Citizenship ceremony at Joondalup Resort

Premier Roger Cook is set to attend Friday’s City of Joondalup Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony. About 300 people from more than 40 countries will be granted citizenship at Joondalup Resort in front of the Premier, making it one of the biggest ceremonies of its kind across Perth. Premier Cook will deliver a congratulatory address at the event, and Australia Day Ambassador Janine Wood will also speak. The City of Joondalup said the new citizens from countries including Belgium, Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Zimbabwe will pledge their allegiance to Australia in front of hundreds of family and friends. Pakistan-born Joondalup resident Laraib Kamal, along with her husband and two daughters, will be one of the several families celebrating their citizenship. Ms Kamal, who followed her husband Faisal to Australia in 2019, said she applied for her citizenship in September and is happy to finally officially become a citizen tomorrow after a long process bouncing through different visas. Ms Kamal said her daughters Mayameen and Zahra were both born in Australia prior to becoming permanent residents. She said the family had to travel to the Pakistan Consulate in Sydney in 2022 in order to obtain the girls’ Pakistani passports and have the ability to travel. “We applied for permanent residency in July 2022, and in July 2023, we were eligible for citizenship, and that’s when we applied,” she said. “This (citizenship) is going to be a very good milestone in our lives, and it’s going to be a big achievement.” Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob said while the city was no stranger to welcoming new citizens – about 40 per cent of Joondalup’s 165,000 residents were born overseas, and the city held about 12 citizenship ceremonies each year. Despite several other local councils opting to change the date of their citizenship ceremony, Mr Jacob said there was something special about being granted citizenship on Australia Day. “Candidates arrive at Joondalup Resort as citizens of many nations, but all leave as citizens of Australia – and they do so on our national day,” he said. “Australian citizenship symbolises our unity and represents a commitment to this country and its people, the values we share and our common future. “All that is good about the Australian way of life can be found within our boundaries, and we are delighted our newest Aussies have chosen the city of Joondalup as their home. “Across 22 suburbs, you could not find a community more dedicated to Australia’s democratic values and people committed to a fair go, equality and respect for one another.” Indigenous cultural activities will be held throughout the morning, which Mr Jacob said was an important component of the day. “Australia Day is a day all Australians can reflect on what we have achieved as a nation and re-commit to working as one to make this country an even better place – now and for future generations,” he said. The City’s 2024 Community Citizen of the Year Awards will be presented in the categories of Citizen of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and Active Citizenship – Group/Event.