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| Australia dual citizenship saga: Court hearing begins | Australia dual citizenship saga: Court hearing begins |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Australian court has begun a long-awaited hearing into whether seven MPs caught up in a dual citizenship saga should remain eligible for office. | An Australian court has begun a long-awaited hearing into whether seven MPs caught up in a dual citizenship saga should remain eligible for office. |
| Under constitutional rules, Australian politicians cannot be dual citizens. | Under constitutional rules, Australian politicians cannot be dual citizens. |
| The High Court of Australia will clarify whether there are any exceptions, such as for those who did not know they were dual nationals. | The High Court of Australia will clarify whether there are any exceptions, such as for those who did not know they were dual nationals. |
| If Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is disqualified, the government could lose its one-seat majority. | If Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is disqualified, the government could lose its one-seat majority. |
| The government will argue that only two politicians who "voluntarily obtained, or retained" dual status should be disqualified. | The government will argue that only two politicians who "voluntarily obtained, or retained" dual status should be disqualified. |
| The other five politicians, including Mr Joyce, were unknowing recipients and should remain eligible, according to the government's defence. | The other five politicians, including Mr Joyce, were unknowing recipients and should remain eligible, according to the government's defence. |
| The hearing will last three days. A ruling could be made as early as Thursday, but the court may decide that longer deliberations are necessary. | The hearing will last three days. A ruling could be made as early as Thursday, but the court may decide that longer deliberations are necessary. |
| Potential consequences | Potential consequences |
| The cases involve Mr Joyce and his government colleagues Fiona Nash and Matt Canavan, as well as four politicians from minor parties - Malcolm Roberts, Nick Xenophon, Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam. | |
| Mr Joyce will attract the most interest because he sits in the lower House of Representatives, which determines government. The others were elected to the Senate. | Mr Joyce will attract the most interest because he sits in the lower House of Representatives, which determines government. The others were elected to the Senate. |
| If Mr Joyce loses his seat, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull could oversee a minority government, but the potential outcomes are complex. | If Mr Joyce loses his seat, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull could oversee a minority government, but the potential outcomes are complex. |
| The citizenship revelations began in July when New Zealand-born Mr Ludlam, from the Greens, announced he was a dual national. | The citizenship revelations began in July when New Zealand-born Mr Ludlam, from the Greens, announced he was a dual national. |
| It prompted dozens of politicians to make public statements about their status. | It prompted dozens of politicians to make public statements about their status. |
| The court will hear submissions from the seven politicians, the government, and an independent challenger, former MP Tony Windsor. | The court will hear submissions from the seven politicians, the government, and an independent challenger, former MP Tony Windsor. |