Australia has been rocked by news that seven serving MPs and senators may be ineligible to sit in parliament because of their dual citizenship status.

August 20, 2017

POLITICIANS CAUGHT UP IN THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP CRISIS

SENATOR NICK XENOPHON

* The latest scalp after revealing on Saturday he is a British overseas citizen by descent as a result of his father emigrating to Australia from Cyprus, a British territory at time of his birth

* Before being elected in 2007 wrote to the Greek embassy and Cypriot high commission to renounce any possible citizenship but says he didn’t think to consult the Britain

* Will refer himself to the High Court

DEPUTY NATIONAL LEADER FIONA NASH

* Told the Senate late on Thursday she was a UK citizen by descent after receiving advice from the UK Home Office

* Father was born in Scotland

* Will be referred to the High Court in September when parliament returns

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARNABY JOYCE

* Confirmed he has New Zealand citizenship on Monday 

* Has now renounced Kiwi citizenship and remains in cabinet

* Also in queue for High Court

QUEENSLAND NATIONALS SENATOR MATT CANAVAN

* Stood aside as resources minister in July following discovery he was a dual citizen of Italy and Australia 

* Says his mother signed him up to become an Italian citizen in 2006 without his knowledge.

* Has been referred to the High Court

AUSTRALIAN GREENS CO-DEPUTY LEADER LARISSA WATERS

* Stood down in July after discovering Canadian citizenship. 

* Born in Canada to Australian parents

* Has renounced Canadian citizenship and plans to recontest parliamentary seat

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR SCOTT LUDLAM

* Resigned from federal parliament earlier in July after discovering he still held citizenship to his country of birth, New Zealand

QUEENSLAND ONE NATION SENATOR MALCOLM ROBERTS

* Did not receive confirmation he had renounced his British citizenship until months after his election 

*Born to an Australian mother and Welsh father in India in 1955, and came to Australia when he was aged about seven

* Confident of surviving any High Court challenge to his eligibility to sit in parliament