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Citizenship crisis: John Alexander resigns and triggers byelection Citizenship crisis: John Alexander resigns and triggers byelection
(35 minutes later)
The Liberal MP John Alexander will resign from parliament, triggering a snap byelection, and making the position of the Turnbull government increasingly precarious. The Liberal MP John Alexander will resign from parliament, triggering a snap byelection, and increasing the precarious position of the Turnbull government.
After days of speculation, Alexander confirmed his intention to resign, a development which pushes the government into minority because Barnaby Joyce is already contesting a byelection in New England courtesy of having been ruled ineligible by the high court. After days of speculation, Alexander confirmed his intention to resign, a development which reduces the government’s numbers in the lower house to 73, minus the Speaker, because Barnaby Joyce is already contesting a byelection in New England courtesy of having been ruled ineligible by the high court.
At a media conference in Sydney, Alexander said: “My right to remain in parliament depends on my belief that I am solely Australian. Given what I have learned about the constitution and understanding now of the high court decision just a couple of weeks ago, I can no longer, with sufficient certainty, maintain the belief that I have held through my 66 years. Alexander said after checks with the British Home Office, he no longer had sufficient certainty that he was a sole Australian citizen, so he had no choice but to resign.
“Therefore, it is my obligation that I must resign. That’s what I will do. I think there is a great need for certainty, to clarify the situation and to do so as expeditiously as possible. I will seek the support of my party to contest the by-election for Bennelong.” Alexander said on Saturday he intended to seek the support of the Liberal party to re-contest his seat of Bennelong, which he holds by a 9.8% margin. A contest in the seat could be underway before Christmas.
With the two government MPs out of action, the government will have 73 MPs and Labor and the crossbench 74 in the House of Representatives. The New England byelection is scheduled for December 2.
Alexander said on Saturday he intended to re-contest his seat of Bennelong, which he holds by a 9.8% margin. A contest in the seat could be under way before Christmas. “My right to remain in parliament depends on my belief that I am solely Australian,” Alexander told reporters in Sydney.
The chief chief government whip Nola Marino is also facing questions about her eligibility to be in parliament after it was revealed she may have Italian citizenship through marriage. “Given what I have learned about the constitution and understanding now of the high court decision just a couple of weeks ago, I can no longer, with sufficient certainty, maintain the belief that I have held through my 66 years,” he said.
“Therefore, it is my obligation that I must resign. That’s what I will do. I think there is a great need for certainty, to clarify the situation and to do so as expeditiously as possible.”
He said Australians were tired of the uncertainty associated with the citizenship imbroglio.
The loss of Alexander means the government no longer has a majority in its own right in the House of Representatives.
Of the 148 remaining members of the House, 74 are from the government, including the Speaker, Tony Smith. Labor has 69 members and there are five crossbenchers.
That means the government cannot win a vote on the floor of the House without the support of at least one crossbencher.
This is because winning a vote amongst the 148 remaining members requires 75 votes.
On the other hand, if Labor and the crossbench voted together, they would have a combined 74 votes, which would be enough to defeat the government. This is because the Speaker only has a vote where there is a tie on the floor of the House.
The government’s problems bo beyond Alexander and Joyce. The chief government whip Nola Marino is also facing questions about her eligibility to be in parliament after it was revealed she may have Italian citizenship through marriage.
On Saturday Fairfax Media that Marino’s husband Carmelo Marino was born in Italy in 1950 and emigrated to Australia with his parents the following year.On Saturday Fairfax Media that Marino’s husband Carmelo Marino was born in Italy in 1950 and emigrated to Australia with his parents the following year.
According to the Consulate General of Italy, “Foreign women who married an Italian citizen prior to 27 April 1983 automatically acquired Italian citizenship on the date of marriage”. According to the consulate general of Italy “foreign women who married an Italian citizen prior to 27 April 1983 automatically acquired Italian citizenship on the date of marriage”.
Marino married her husband in Western Australia in 1972. Whether she is an Italian citizen will depend on whether her husband became a naturalised Australian citizen prior to their marriage. Under Italian law, “children who were naturalised Australian citizens along with their parents prior to 16 August 1992 would lose Italian citizenship at the time,” the Consulate General advice says. This would mean his citizenship could not have been passed on to Marino. Marino married her husband in Western Australia in 1972. Whether she is an Italian citizen will depend on whether her husband became a naturalised Australian citizen prior to their marriage. Under Italian law, “children who were naturalised Australian citizens along with their parents prior to 16 August 1992 would lose Italian citizenship at the time”, the consulate general’s advice says. This would mean his citizenship could not have been passed on to Marino.
Guardian Australia has contacted Marino’s media spokesman for comment.Guardian Australia has contacted Marino’s media spokesman for comment.