Time and again, an enthusiastic new government will promise to “slash the red tape” to help the business sector or to generally butt out of citizens’ lives.

But that slashing rarely seems to eventuate and instead of offering freedoms, government after government is determined to bind community expectations and behaviour with legislation.

The latest example is, of course, the suggestion from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the government would make it compulsory for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, in a bid to “protect our national day and ensure it is respected”.

While he is tinkering with the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, Mr Morrison is also considering the introduction of a dress code that bans thongs and board shorts at these events, but will allow cultural or national dress to remain.

Putting aside the question of how a boy from “The Shire” could fail to appreciate that a pair of pluggers and some boardies are possibly the most appropriate clothing on a January day, it is always a slippery slope to change rules based on assumptions.

There have certainly been calls to change Australia Day’s date, but it’s a huge leap to assume this is the only reason councils would elect not to hold a citizenship ceremony in January 26.

If Mr Morrison is going to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, as well as September 17 for Citizenship Day, is he also going to make sure the federal government helps cover the costs?

Councils are going to be happy to foot the bill for ceremonies that welcome new citizens into their communities, but there is something ludicrous about making it compulsory to have one that could be pointless.

There could be any number of reasons why people chose a date other than Australia Day to become a citizen, and none of them linked to a particular viewpoint.

We just don’t need more high-handedness from yet another government determined to treat its citizens like children.