Prime Minister mocked for dress code at Australia Day citizenship ceremonies

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been slammed online for his decision to tighten up the the dress code during Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.

Earlier this month the government announced all citizenship ceremonies must be performed on January 26 while recipients were banned from wearing board shorts, thongs and singlets as Morrison urged people to wear formal attire.

Yet the decision has been met with considerable disdain online, many slamming the Prime Minister for his “un-Australian” requirement.

“Australians are the scruffiest of peoples, it is a core element of our culture as it promotes egalitarianism,” one man wrote on Twitter.

“We are all equal in boardies and thongs, an imposed dress code is un-Australian.”

Social media users couldn’t help but point out the irony of the decision to be rolled out next year.

“New rules for citizenship ceremonies: It must be on Australia Day but you can’t dress as Australians dress,” one user pointed out.

City of Greater Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn took particular offence to the decision and told the government to “bugger off”.

He revealed he has signed in numerous new Australians in a variety of clothing and believes the now banned items are a quintessential part of being an Aussie.

“The idea they’d prevent local governments from naturalising Australians because some bloke wanted to wear boardies and thongs on Australia Day blows my mind,” he told Perth Now.

He has since started a petition to have the decision overturned.

Mr Morrison has since defended his decision, saying Australian Day citizenship ceremonies needed to be respected.

“If you’re getting your citizenship on that day, by all means put the boardies and the thongs on after for the barbecue,” he told Sunrise.

“Show the respect for the ceremony and the very serious thing you’re engaging in.”