AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Queensland welcomes over 500 new citizens

Wednesday, 13 June 2007

Brisbane has celebrated its annual 'Queensland Citizenship Day' by welcoming 561 new citizens.

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Teresa Gambaro, who was the Presiding Officer at the ceremony held on June 10th, congratulated the new citizen’s on their commitment to Australia.

‘At this year’s Queensland Day Citizenship ceremony we have people from 64 nationalities who will become Australian citizens,’ she said.

‘The conferees come from countries as diverse as India, South Africa, China and Venezuela. They have seized the chance Australia offers to come and build a new life of opportunity here, and I look forward to welcoming them as members of our strong and culturally diverse society.’

‘They will join more than 16 000 people who became citizens in Queensland last year. Nationally, than 110 000 people from over 175 countries joined the Australian family as citizens.’

Queensland Day has been celebrated since 1981 as the state's official birthday. Celebrations provide an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of Queenslander's as well as welcome new citizens from all around the world to the Sunshine State.