Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Politicians in citizenship saga face court

The High Court on Tuesday will hear the cases of seven MPs and senators with clouds over their future after constitutional questions about their citizenship.

October 9, 2017

POLITICIANS CAUGHT UP IN THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP CRISIS

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARNABY JOYCE

* Confirmed he had New Zealand citizenship from his father but didn’t realise under NZ law he could be a dual-citizen.

* Since renounced Kiwi citizenship and remains in Cabinet.

* His political opponent in New England and a former MP for the area, Tony Windsor, has joined the case and could potentially face-off against him in a by-election should the court rule against Joyce.

DEPUTY NATIONALS LEADER FIONA NASH

* Announced she is a UK citizen by descent through her Scottish-born father, after receiving advice from the UK Home Office.

SENATOR NICK XENOPHON

* Revealed 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 British.

* Announced on October 6 he will be leaving federal parliament to contest the South Australian state election.

QUEENSLAND NATIONALS SENATOR MATT CANAVAN

* Stood aside as resources minister in July following the discovery he was a dual citizen of Italy and Australia through his Italian-born grandparents.

* First claimed his mother filled out paperwork registering him without his knowledge when he was 25.

* Later revealed to court a retrospective law change meant he could have been a citizen since the age of two.

AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR LARISSA WATERS

* Stood down in July after discovering she had Canadian citizenship because she was born in Canada to Australian parents, despite leaving there before she turned one.

* Since renounced Canadian citizenship and plans to recontest parliamentary seat.

AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR SCOTT LUDLAM

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

ONE NATION SENATOR MALCOLM ROBERTS

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

* Senator Roberts sent an email titled “Am I still a British citizen” on May 1, 2016 to two email addresses he found on the internet believed to be linked to the British consulate. Both email addresses were invalid.

* He sent another email on June 6, 2016 asking why he did not receive a response. The email was sent to both valid and invalid email addresses. Neither of the emails received a response.

* High Court in September, 2017 found he was a citizen of the United Kingdom by descent at the time of his nomination for election.

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