The ACT government will not bow to the federal Coalition's last-minute demand to change Tuesday's event marking a century since the official naming of Canberra.
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Dignitaries will gather around the Foundation Stone on Federation Mall, in front of Parliament House, for speeches to replicate the naming ceremony.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had been invited to be a prominent guest at the ACT government-hosted event, which had been planned for months and rehearsed last Friday.
Speaking roles are allocated to the contemporary equivalents of those officials who participated on March 12, 1913.
Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will speak, along with Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean in line with the speech 100 years ago of home affairs minister King O'Malley.
The Governor-General's husband, Michael Bryce, will also have a role. In 1913, the governor-general's wife, Lady Denman, officially announced the name of the national capital as Canberra.
As host, Ms Gallagher will wind up the event.
However Liberal senator Gary Humphries said on Sunday it was a snub that Mr Abbott did not have ''an appropriate role''.
''This event is the culmination of the centenary of Canberra celebrations, with an appropriate role for federal political leaders, but to not include the federal opposition is a snub,'' he said.
''Other national events of this kind traditionally enjoy a non-partisan flavour, events such as Anzac Day, Sorry Day and the welcoming of visiting heads of states to the capital. Who was the 'contemporary equivalent' of Katy Gallagher in 1913?''
ACT officials said the NSW premier James McGowen did have a short speaking role at the Canberra naming ceremony and, as the ACT did not exist at the time, it was appropriate the Chief Minister speaks in place of the Premier.
Ms Gallagher said Tuesday's replica event would be held at the same time of day and at the same place, with a limited number of speakers.
"Of course Mr Abbott was invited and would have a very prominent place in the ceremony, and that was all explained to his office,'' she said.
"My understanding is that on Friday Gary Humphries said, let Mr Abbott speak or there would be media trouble. The thing I had to consider was, can we squeeze in a person who really didn't have a role in this ceremony just because, a few days out from the event, they're trying to get in on the order of proceedings.
"I don't want to get drawn into political squabbling about this important day in Canberra's history but I also won't be pushed into changing arrangements just because I might have to answer some questions in the media.
"This is not hosted by the Commonwealth, this is an ACT government-run event as part of our centenary celebrations where we thought it would be fun to arrange a similar ceremony that occurred 100 years ago.''
