Move to protect council citizenship rights

The Greens are rounding up support in the Senate to overturn a government decision to ban councils that do not recognise using Australia Day to hold citizenship ceremonies.

"We don't think the government should be allowed to get away with this kind of bullying tactic," Senator Nick McKim told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

The minor party hopes to win backing from Labor and the crossbench for its move to disallow ministerial regulations that have removed the right of councils such as Darebin and Yarra City in Victoria and Hobart City council in Tasmania to confer citizenship on residents.