discobay

I got sworn in last week in Cannington, Perth. Nice ceremony and pleasantly surprised with the finger food and soft drinks (should have invited some friends). Received a pin badge and water-wise plant (which emptied itself into my car at the first corner). On arrival we were greeted by a volunteer who instead of begging for donations was thrusting the electoral registration form into our faces. He started off with some rubbish about their being a hung parliament so we had to fill the form in. An accompanying leaflet outlined that registration was mandatory and fineable if not done. Has this changed? Another thing was that we didn't get our citizenship certificates and the explanation was that because of the hung parliament we don't have a minister for immigration. I find that strange. So who runs immigration and makes the important decisions? Do we also not have a prime minister?

moneypenny20

They're still there but in 'caretaker' mode. If an emergency happened then the caretaker would take responsibility but general run of the mill stuff gets kind of put on hold. There's a thread around which goes into more detail about the lack of Citizenship Certificate at the moment.

Nothing has changed with regards voting. The person handing out the forms presumably believes there will be another election in the next few months and that was why they were saying what they did. They always hand out the preprinted electoral roll forms at the ceremony, just don't often have the hung parliament situation we have at the moment.

If you get on the roll but don't go to vote you get fined $20. However, all you have to do is rock up to the polling station, you can do what you want with the ballot form if you have problems with either having to vote or not having a clue who to vote for.

WS

Did you get any information on when you might receive the certificate or how you can apply for a passport whilst you haven't got one!?

discobay

They did offer advice for those intending to travel in the near future but I am not so I don't have anything useful to pass on. It should be just a formality so there really is no reason to hide behind the 'we have no minister' line.

WS

Cool thanks, did they say when you might get the certificate?

LINZI

Congrats on getting citizenship

I keep reading how different everyones ceremony goes, every council seems to have a different way of doing things

discobay

Yes they said it would after we get a government.

MrsE

Congratulations on becoming a citizen

I read somewhere that certificates are not being signed until the new government is in place.

discobay

Thanks.
And thanks.

Pollyana

Brisbane will be issued certificates on September 1st - that was the advice given at last weekes ceremony.

WS

It's so confusing. I had my ceremony yesterday in Perth and received my certificate

discobay

Do they know something we don't?

WS

I don't really understand it at all

moneypenny20

Like I said ages ago, they were covering themselves 'just in case'. There have been three elections since I've been playing on BE, it's the first time I've heard of Certificates not being handed over at the Ceremony. No one was told they wouldn't get them, they were told they 'may not' get them.

WS

As I said previously, I was told by the council I would not receive it.