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| How the citizenship muddle unfolded and who’s caught up in it – timeline | How the citizenship muddle unfolded and who’s caught up in it – timeline |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Australian politics has been thrown into turmoil by repeated revelations that MPs and senators may have been ineligible to stand for election because of dual nationality. | Australian politics has been thrown into turmoil by repeated revelations that MPs and senators may have been ineligible to stand for election because of dual nationality. |
| Until recently, many outside politics would have been unaware that anyone standing for parliament must renounce any other citizenship under section 44(i) of the constitution. | Until recently, many outside politics would have been unaware that anyone standing for parliament must renounce any other citizenship under section 44(i) of the constitution. |
| But in the space of a month, two senators from the Greens, one from One Nation, two from the National party, and the National party leader, Barnaby Joyce, have been referred to the high court after discovering they held – or might have held – dual citizenship. | But in the space of a month, two senators from the Greens, one from One Nation, two from the National party, and the National party leader, Barnaby Joyce, have been referred to the high court after discovering they held – or might have held – dual citizenship. |
| Section 44(i) may not in itself rule out a candidate if they have taken “reasonable steps” to renounce their other citizenship. Some of the MPs have said they were unaware that they were ever citizens, or could have been citizens, of the other country. The question of what is “reasonable” will be ruled on by the high court, sitting as the court of disputed returns, when it considers the cases. | Section 44(i) may not in itself rule out a candidate if they have taken “reasonable steps” to renounce their other citizenship. Some of the MPs have said they were unaware that they were ever citizens, or could have been citizens, of the other country. The question of what is “reasonable” will be ruled on by the high court, sitting as the court of disputed returns, when it considers the cases. |
| The hearings begin in Brisbane on 24 August. | The hearings begin in Brisbane on 24 August. |
| There are currently six politicians referred to the high court and seven in total who have confirmed publicly that they are or may be dual citizens, but this list could grow as several other MPs and senators have their citizenship questioned. | There are currently six politicians referred to the high court and seven in total who have confirmed publicly that they are or may be dual citizens, but this list could grow as several other MPs and senators have their citizenship questioned. |
| Scott Ludlam | Scott Ludlam |
| On 14 July, the WA Greens senator resigned from parliament after revealing he held dual citizenship with New Zealand. Ludlam believed his citizenship had been revoked when he became an Australian citizen as a teenager. He discovered he was a Kiwi only when a barrister in Perth, who had been looking into it in his own time, contacted Ludlam’s office. | On 14 July, the WA Greens senator resigned from parliament after revealing he held dual citizenship with New Zealand. Ludlam believed his citizenship had been revoked when he became an Australian citizen as a teenager. He discovered he was a Kiwi only when a barrister in Perth, who had been looking into it in his own time, contacted Ludlam’s office. |
| Larissa Waters | Larissa Waters |
| On 18 July, the Greens senator for Queensland resigned from parliament after learning she held dual citizenship with Canada. Waters was born there to Australian parents and was under the impression her right to a Canadian citizenship had been automatically revoked when she turned 21. | On 18 July, the Greens senator for Queensland resigned from parliament after learning she held dual citizenship with Canada. Waters was born there to Australian parents and was under the impression her right to a Canadian citizenship had been automatically revoked when she turned 21. |
| Matt Canavan | Matt Canavan |
| On 25 July, the resources minister resigned from cabinet over his Italian dual citizenship but remained in the Senate. He said his mother had applied for Italian citizenship on his behalf without his knowledge or consent when he was 25 years old, in January 2007. | On 25 July, the resources minister resigned from cabinet over his Italian dual citizenship but remained in the Senate. He said his mother had applied for Italian citizenship on his behalf without his knowledge or consent when he was 25 years old, in January 2007. |
| Malcolm Roberts | Malcolm Roberts |
| On 9 August, the One Nation senator was referred to the high court by party leader Pauline Hanson over questions about his citizenship. Roberts was born in 1955 in West Bengal, India, to a Welsh father and Australian mother. Roberts has signed a statutory declaration saying he is not currently a citizen of the UK or India, and is a citizen only of Australia – but it does not clarify whether he held exclusive Australian citizenship when he nominated for the election last year. Documents published by BuzzFeed confirmed that Roberts had been a British citizen in the past, contradicting the senator’s claim last year that he had “never held any citizenship other than Australian”. | On 9 August, the One Nation senator was referred to the high court by party leader Pauline Hanson over questions about his citizenship. Roberts was born in 1955 in West Bengal, India, to a Welsh father and Australian mother. Roberts has signed a statutory declaration saying he is not currently a citizen of the UK or India, and is a citizen only of Australia – but it does not clarify whether he held exclusive Australian citizenship when he nominated for the election last year. Documents published by BuzzFeed confirmed that Roberts had been a British citizen in the past, contradicting the senator’s claim last year that he had “never held any citizenship other than Australian”. |
| Barnaby Joyce | Barnaby Joyce |
| On 14 August, the deputy prime minister announced he was a New Zealand citizen through his father, who was born in the country. Joyce did not stand down from his portfolio and will continue to cast his vote in the House of Representatives, which the Coalition governs with a slim majority. | On 14 August, the deputy prime minister announced he was a New Zealand citizen through his father, who was born in the country. Joyce did not stand down from his portfolio and will continue to cast his vote in the House of Representatives, which the Coalition governs with a slim majority. |
| Fiona Nash | Fiona Nash |
| On 17 August, the deputy leader of the National party announced she was referring herself to the high court after discovering she was a dual-British citizen by descent through her father. Nash was born in Australia and had little contact with her Scottish-born father after her parents’ divorce when she was eight years old. She believed she had to apply for the citizenship to obtain it. | On 17 August, the deputy leader of the National party announced she was referring herself to the high court after discovering she was a dual-British citizen by descent through her father. Nash was born in Australia and had little contact with her Scottish-born father after her parents’ divorce when she was eight years old. She believed she had to apply for the citizenship to obtain it. |
| Nick Xenophon | Nick Xenophon |
| On 18 August, Senator Xenophon announced he had contacted the British Home Office to check if he was a dual citizen after discovering he may hold it through his father, who was born in Cyprus. Xenophon said he wrote to Greek and Cypriot authorities to renounce any citizenship when he became a senator but did not realise he could also hold British citizenship because Cyprus was a colony until 1960. | On 18 August, Senator Xenophon announced he had contacted the British Home Office to check if he was a dual citizen after discovering he may hold it through his father, who was born in Cyprus. Xenophon said he wrote to Greek and Cypriot authorities to renounce any citizenship when he became a senator but did not realise he could also hold British citizenship because Cyprus was a colony until 1960. |
| Australian citizenship | Australian citizenship |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Australian law | Australian law |
| National party | National party |
| Coalition | Coalition |
| Barnaby Joyce | Barnaby Joyce |
| explainers | explainers |
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