Townsville City Council Citizenship Ceremony

Premier, Mayor, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

As we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands around Townsville, I must at once say how very pleased I am to once again to be in Townville to celebrate Australia Day with you – as is Kaye.

As today’s conferees, from 31 different nations, wonderfully confirm, Australia embraces many different cultures and ethnicities, and it is our differences, as much as our commonalities, which make us interesting Australians.

As the representative of Australia’s, and the State of Queensland’s, Head of State, Her Majesty The Queen, it gives me enormous pleasure, with Kaye, to congratulate today’s conferees on their decision to formally become part of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Ours is a nation, and Queensland is a State, of boundless opportunity.

I urge you to embrace that opportunity, and to also take seriously your obligations set out in Oaths and Affirmations you will shortly recite, thereby advancing cohesion and community progress.

But above all, let us celebrate this exceptional day in the company of friends and families. I wish us all a significant and enjoyable Australia Day 2017. Thank you.