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Second Australian senator quits over dual citizenship Second Australian senator quits over dual citizenship
(35 minutes later)
Australian Senator Larissa Waters has announced she will resign after learning she holds dual citizenship. An Australian senator who made history by breastfeeding in parliament has resigned after learning she holds dual citizenship.
Ms Waters, from the minor Greens party, was born in Canada. Larissa Waters, from the minor Greens party, was born in Canada.
Under Australia's constitution, a person cannot run for federal office if they hold dual or plural citizenship.Under Australia's constitution, a person cannot run for federal office if they hold dual or plural citizenship.
Ms Waters is the second senator since Friday to resign for having dual citizenship, following her Greens colleague, Scott Ludlam. Both were deputy leaders of the party. On Friday, another Greens senator, Scott Ludlam, also resigned for having dual citizenship. Both politicians were deputy leaders of the party.
In May, Ms Waters gained international attention by becoming the first politician to breastfeed in Australia's federal parliament.In May, Ms Waters gained international attention by becoming the first politician to breastfeed in Australia's federal parliament.
'I was unaware''I was unaware'
Ms Waters said she only discovered her citizenship status following the case of Mr Ludlam, who had recently learned he was a New Zealand national.Ms Waters said she only discovered her citizenship status following the case of Mr Ludlam, who had recently learned he was a New Zealand national.
Holding back tears at a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Waters described her error as an "honest mistake".Holding back tears at a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Waters described her error as an "honest mistake".
"I was devastated to learn that because of 70-year-old Canadian laws I had been a dual citizen from birth, and that Canadian law changed a week after I was born and required me to have actively renounced Canadian citizenship," she said."I was devastated to learn that because of 70-year-old Canadian laws I had been a dual citizen from birth, and that Canadian law changed a week after I was born and required me to have actively renounced Canadian citizenship," she said.
The senator, 40, was 11 months old when she left Canada with her Australian parents.The senator, 40, was 11 months old when she left Canada with her Australian parents.
"All of this happened before I could even say my first word," she said."All of this happened before I could even say my first word," she said.
However, Ms Waters, who was first elected in 2011, said she took "full responsibility".However, Ms Waters, who was first elected in 2011, said she took "full responsibility".
It is not yet clear whether she and Mr Ludlam will have to repay their Senate salaries and allowances.It is not yet clear whether she and Mr Ludlam will have to repay their Senate salaries and allowances.
"Certainly it is something that may occur and I will face it if it comes," Ms Waters said."Certainly it is something that may occur and I will face it if it comes," Ms Waters said.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said he was "gutted" by the resignation of Ms Waters, who had made an "enormous contribution" to Australia.Greens leader Richard Di Natale said he was "gutted" by the resignation of Ms Waters, who had made an "enormous contribution" to Australia.
The party leader said he was taking immediate action to ensure the mistake would not be repeated.The party leader said he was taking immediate action to ensure the mistake would not be repeated.
"It has been a terrible month, there is no other way of sugar-coating it," he said."It has been a terrible month, there is no other way of sugar-coating it," he said.
According to Australia's constitution, politicians must relinquish foreign citizenships before standing for office.According to Australia's constitution, politicians must relinquish foreign citizenships before standing for office.