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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bennelong byelection race too close to call as Bernardi signals interest | Bennelong byelection race too close to call as Bernardi signals interest |
| (2 months later) | |
| Support for Liberal MP John Alexander is ahead of former NSW premier Kristina Keneally by just three percentage points | |
| • Why the citizenship crisis feels even more farcical in Bennelong | |
| Australian Associated Press | |
| Sat 18 Nov 2017 04.14 GMT | |
| First published on Sat 18 Nov 2017 01.32 GMT | |
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| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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”. | 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. |
| New South Wales | |
| Australian politics | |
| Labor party | |
| Kristina Keneally | |
| Coalition | |
| Liberal party | |
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