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Bennelong byelection race too close to call, poll shows Bennelong byelection race too close to call as Bernardi signals interest
(about 3 hours later)
A new poll suggests the Bennelong byelection will be a tight race as it emerges Liberal MP John Alexander’s resignation over his citizenship status may have been premature. A new poll suggests the Bennelong byelection will be a tight race between Liberal MP John Alexander and Labor candidate Kristina Keneally, even as Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi has announced he will run a candidate as well.
It has also emerged that Alexander’s resignation over his citizenship status may have been premature.
The byelection was sparked in the federal seat of Bennelong when Alexander resigned amid uncertainty over his dual-citizenship status through his British-born father.The byelection was sparked in the federal seat of Bennelong when Alexander resigned amid uncertainty over his dual-citizenship status through his British-born father.
The former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally is contesting the seat as the Labor candidate.
A Galaxy Research poll published in the Saturday Telegraph found voters in the Bennelong byelection race were evenly split on a two-party preferred basis, with support for Alexander just ahead of the former premier by three percentage points.A Galaxy Research poll published in the Saturday Telegraph found voters in the Bennelong byelection race were evenly split on a two-party preferred basis, with support for Alexander just ahead of the former premier by three percentage points.
According to an ABC report, Bernardi said he would announce his candidate on Tuesday.
It said he told the Australian Christian Lobby national conference in Sydney that people needed to support candidates who would “change politics”.
The UK Home Office has confirmed Alexander is no longer eligible for citizenship after he renounced even “the possibility” of holding it through his father.The UK Home Office has confirmed Alexander is no longer eligible for citizenship after he renounced even “the possibility” of holding it through his father.
But the MP’s eligibility was never confirmed and constitutional law expert George Williams said the decision to step down seemed “somewhat rash”.But the MP’s eligibility was never confirmed and constitutional law expert George Williams said the decision to step down seemed “somewhat rash”.
“If he hasn’t had confirmation that he’s a British citizen, it would seem like a somewhat rash decision,” the University of NSW dean of law said on Friday.“If he hasn’t had confirmation that he’s a British citizen, it would seem like a somewhat rash decision,” the University of NSW dean of law said on Friday.
“If it’s not clear, he would have been rightly advised not to resign because he may well survive a high court challenge.“If it’s not clear, he would have been rightly advised not to resign because he may well survive a high court challenge.
“Everything I have seen in regard to Alexander would have led me to believe that he wouldn’t have resigned unless it was clear that he was a British citizen.”“Everything I have seen in regard to Alexander would have led me to believe that he wouldn’t have resigned unless it was clear that he was a British citizen.”
However, University of Sydney professor of constitutional law Anne Twomey disagrees.However, University of Sydney professor of constitutional law Anne Twomey disagrees.
Twomey says the evidence suggests Alexander is “extremely likely” to have been a dual citizen even if it can’t be proven “100% one way or another”.Twomey says the evidence suggests Alexander is “extremely likely” to have been a dual citizen even if it can’t be proven “100% one way or another”.
“He took the appropriate step of resigning and calling a byelection,” she said.“He took the appropriate step of resigning and calling a byelection,” she said.
Alexander’s father came to Australia as a four-year-old in 1911 – 40 years before his son was born in Sydney.Alexander’s father came to Australia as a four-year-old in 1911 – 40 years before his son was born in Sydney.
“Unless his father had renounced his citizenship then Alexander was entitled to UK citizenship,” Twomey said.“Unless his father had renounced his citizenship then Alexander was entitled to UK citizenship,” Twomey said.
“Simply because no one can utterly and completely prove whether he did or he didn’t, that means there’s still some doubt.“Simply because no one can utterly and completely prove whether he did or he didn’t, that means there’s still some doubt.
“It would be far better to renounce any possible citizenship ... rather than going on and waiting to be referred to the high court.”“It would be far better to renounce any possible citizenship ... rather than going on and waiting to be referred to the high court.”
A statement from the Liberal party suggested it was unclear whether Alexander was entitled to citizenship.A statement from the Liberal party suggested it was unclear whether Alexander was entitled to citizenship.
“He has received confirmation from the UK Home Office that he has successfully renounced the UK citizenship that he may have been eligible for through descent,” the statement read.“He has received confirmation from the UK Home Office that he has successfully renounced the UK citizenship that he may have been eligible for through descent,” the statement read.
Alexander is standing by his decision and is now in the clear to defend his seat in the 16 December vote.Alexander is standing by his decision and is now in the clear to defend his seat in the 16 December vote.
The new poll on Saturday suggested it would be a tight race, with Labor boasting an apparent 10% swing on a primary vote basis, up to 39% against the Liberal party’s 42%.The new poll on Saturday suggested it would be a tight race, with Labor boasting an apparent 10% swing on a primary vote basis, up to 39% against the Liberal party’s 42%.
Voter approval of Alexander has dropped from 50.4% at the 2016 federal election to 42%, with Keneally close behind at 39%, according to the poll.Voter approval of Alexander has dropped from 50.4% at the 2016 federal election to 42%, with Keneally close behind at 39%, according to the poll.