Jacqui Lambie resigns over dual citizenship scandal as Coalition prepare to refer three MPs to High Court
AN emotional Jacqui Lambie declared politics a “shambles” after becoming the latest casualty of the citizenship crisis she says will not “end well” for the nation.
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A TEARY Jacqui Lambie says politics is a “shambles” after becoming the latest casualty of the citizenship crisis she says will not “end well” for the nation.
The Tasmainian independent resigned from the Senate shortly after noon confirming she is a dual British citizen by descent.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here... I do hope to come back”, she told her state election team during an emotional resignation speech.
She said this morning that she “never thought” she had a problem with her citizenship, and that she believed her family had sorted it out in the past.
The emotional Senator said the dual citizenship saga was “such a shambles” and would not “end well”. “It’s going to be an absolute cluster,” she said.
“I was going to say what my father said to me this morning, you can’t keep a bloody Lambie down,” she said.“I won’t be laying down, I’ll just get up and get back on and go again.”
She said she would not ask the next person on her Senate ticket, Steve Martin, to step aside for her but would seek re-election to federal Parliament.
British authorities overnight confirmed she is a UK citizen by descent through her Scottish-born father.
Senator Lambie acknowledged it was her error.
But she vowed she would return to federal politics.
“I don’t intend on going away,” she said.
Asked whether she would run in a possible by-election for the Tasmanian federal seat of Braddon, which would be triggered if Labor MP Justine Keay was found to be ineligible due to dual citizenship, Senator Lambie said “I’d certainly have a good look at it.”
“I just have to see what else is going on ... because it’s all over the shop here right now.
“I’m just trying to work out is there going to be an early election, is there going to be a leader swap, you know, there is stuff going on up here in the last 24 hours that is amazing.”
She entered parliament after the 2013 election representing Clive Palmer’s now defunct party before quitting to sit as an independent the following year. She said the decision was the right one.
Meanwhile the Coalition government is preparing to refer at least three Labor MPs to the High Court despite striking a deal to resolve the constitutional crisis.
The Turnbull government is likely to refer Tasmanian MP Justine Keay, Queenslander Susan Lamb and West Australian Josh Wilson to the court over their citizenship status.
But a fourth Labor MP, Madeleine King, yesterday capitulated to the pressure and released documentation from the British Home Office which confirmed she had renounced weeks before nominations opened for the last federal election.
The government yesterday reached a deal with Labor which will force senators to disclose their citizenship status at the time of election and that of their parents and grandparents by December 1. That will give the Senate one week to refer any with uncertain senators to the court before Christmas.
That agreement is expected to be extended to the House of Representatives when it returns on November 27.
But that did not stop senior Cabinet ministers from taking aim at Labor leader Bill Shorten yesterday, with Attorney-General George Brandis saying Ms Keay and Ms Lamb were in “no more a favourable position” than John Alexander.
MORE: TURNBULL STEPS UP ATTACK ON SHORTEN
MORE: COALITION, LABOR STRIKE DEAL OVER CITIZENSHIP CRISIS
Mr Alexander resigned after questions arose about his possible British citizenship and will contest a by-election next month.
“Mr Shorten continues to protect the member for Braddon, the member for Longman, and we do not know how many others he continues to protect,” Senator Brandis said. Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Shorten “has been trying to protect his members of parliament who have serious questions about citizenship applying one rule to his members and another to everybody else”.
However, the government has capitulated to Mr Shorten’s demands for the disclosure process, moving the final date from December 7 to the end of November.
That could set the scene for multiple by-elections early next year, with the government’s hold on power already tenuous, although key crossbenchers Rebekha Sharkie and Cathy McGowan have agreed to support it.
Nick Xenophon Team member Ms Sharkie could face a referral to the court herself, after legal advice obtained by the government concluded she was likely a British citizen having received confirmation of her renunciation after nominations closed last year. In a speech to the Labor caucus, Mr Shorten said the party “has nothing to hide”.
“We will put forward our information. We have done our homework. We have got our legal advice and we think there should be one rule for all,” he said.
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In retaliation for referring its MPs, Labor insiders have threatened to send a number of Liberal MPs to the court with concerns over their eligibility to sit in Parliament.
EXPLAINER: SENATOR CITIZENSHIP REGISTER
* December 1 deadline for sitting senators (and within 21 days of being sworn in for future senators) to declare date and place of birth, citizenship at time of birth, and date of naturalisation if not born in Australia.
* Declare place and date of birth of senator’s parents and grandparents. * Declare whether the senator has ever been a citizen of another country and what steps were taken to assure themselves they have not inherited citizenship. * Reveal what renunciation steps were taken, if needed.
* If the senator discovers the information is not accurate, they should update it within 21 days of becoming aware.
* Any senator who knowingly fails to provide the statement by the due date, correct an error, or provides false information is guilty of a serious contempt of parliament and the privileges committee will inquire into it. Fines or jail could apply.
* Similar motion is expected in House of Representatives on November 27.
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