The council’s manager of corporate and community relations Nick Redmond on Monday said it would host citizenship ceremonies around six to eight times a year.

From those ceremonies, 82 residents became citizens last year.

“We have a long history of holding citizenship ceremonies as part of community celebrations on Australia Day and there are no plans to change that,” Mr Redmond said.

Under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which is to be introduced in 2020, the Federal government is making it mandatory for the councils to hold a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day and a second ceremony on September 17 – the Australian Citizenship Day.

Orange councillor Joanne McRae said she will support continuing to hold citizenship ceremonies on multiple occasions, providing a range of opportunities to people to become citizens of Australia.

“It is really important to hold multiple ceremonies,” Cr McRae said.

“We see residents of our cities become citizens of Australia and embracing the rights and the responsibility.

“I think Orange has a rich history people coming from different nations to make it their home. Personally, I would support council continue to hold ceremonies throughout the year,” she said.

Cr McRae said the council will approach the Local Government NSW if it feels the new rules are inappropriate.

“We would talk to the Local Government NSW to ensure that councils are consistent in the voice they take in advocacy to the Federal government on this matter,” she said.

Under the revised Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, new citizens would have to stick to a strict dress code and can not wear board shorts and thongs to ceremonies.

Cr McRae said she has not seen anyone in Orange attending the citizenship ceremonies havingdressed inappropriately.

“This is the real celebration for the families,” Cr McRae said. 

“They usually dress really beautifully and proudly and I don’t think Orange would have any problem if people are not dressed appropriately.”

The government will send the revised code to council.