The Federal Government is moving to force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

Immigration Minister David Coleman says he will update the code for citizenship ceremonies to ensure they are held on January 26.

Under the planned changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code to be introduced in 2020, councils will also have to hold a second citizenship ceremony on September 17 - Australian Citizenship Day - and apply a strict dress code for new citizens that bans boardshorts and thongs.

A regional council in WA will allow board shorts and thongs at its citizenship ceremonies, brazenly flouting the PM’s new rules.

Several councils have been stripped of their power to host citizenship events, after choosing to move the ceremonies to a day that does not represent the start of cultural destruction for Indigenous Australians.

The Government says any councils that breach its new code will lose the ability to host the ceremonies at other times throughout the year.

“New citizens should be given the opportunity to become an Australian on our national day,” Mr Coleman said.

“While most councils already hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, becoming an Australian on our national day is a great privilege and I want more people to have that opportunity.

“Australia Day is an incredibly important part of our national calendar, and each year Australians in huge numbers celebrate our success at the many events organised by councils across the country.”

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has labelled the federal government’s intervention “heavy-handed and odd”.

“Councils value their role in holding citizenship ceremonies and being a part of this important commitment,” ALGA President, Mayor David O’Loughlin said.

“However, most councils hold more than one citizenship ceremony a year, some as often as monthly. The Federal Government’s strong focus on drawing a link between Australia Day and citizenship ceremonies is bizarre.

“If the Federal Government had bothered to consult with us in the development of this policy, they would have heard that in some locations, it’s simply too hot for councils to hold ceremonies during the day, so they do it the evening before, just as the Federal Government does with its Australian of the Year Ceremony.

“Other councils combine their citizenship ceremonies with their local Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards which are often held in the week before Australia Day, just as many of the State and Territory Governor’s do with their Australia Day Awards ceremonies.

“It would make more sense for the Federal Government to insist on local, state and their own level of government holding events to celebrate Australia Day Honours and Citizens of the Year on Australia Day, rather than only insisting on local councils holding a citizenship ceremony on the 26th of January, especially given Citizenship Day is the 17th of September, months after Australia Day.

“We do acknowledge that a small number of councils are in discussions with their communities about whether the 26th of January is the appropriate day to celebrate Australia Day.

“However, councils cannot move Australia Day - this is ultimately up to the Federal Government – but it is our job to be responsive to our communities, including to their calls for prudence and advocacy.”