Prime Minister Scott Morrison has suggested more could be done to celebrate Indigenous Australia the day before Australia Day.
Last year, Mr Morrison said that a new Indigenous national day could be created rather than change Australia Day from January 26, the date the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove.
Asked what progress he had made in setting a date for a new Indigenous national day, Mr Morrison said on Monday there were already Indigenous ceremonies held on January 25 and encouraged more to attend.
"They have them in all parts of the country and they are an opportunity to pause and reflect," Mr Morrison told ABC News Breakfast.
"There aren't too many of them these days. I would like to see that as a tradition taken up around the country."
His comments come after the federal government on Sunday announced new rules making it mandatory for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 which some councils have described as "bizarre" and "heavy handed".
Ban on thongs and board shorts
The government is also introducing a dress code for those becoming Australian citizens, banning thongs and board shorts.
"Wear the boardies and the thongs at the BBQ after at the beach or wherever you're doing it. On the day it is important to have standards around the important institutions," Mr Morrison told ABC News Breakfast.
In 2017, two Melbourne councils were stripped of the right to hold citizenship ceremonies after scrapping all Australia Day celebrations to recognise Indigenous sensitivities.
Yarra City Council and neighbouring Darebin Council cited a groundswell of popular support for the move but were slapped down by the government.
Amid a growing push from some corners to change Australia's national from January 26, several councils have already made plans to move or cancel traditional celebrations this year.
But Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he won't let the importance of the date January 26 be eroded.
"I'm going to ensure it doesn't get eroded and it is being reinvested in and continually held up as an important day for all Australians to come together on that day.
"That is our historical day and we need to come together on that day to ensure that we can make it an important day for all Australians, whatever their background."
