Greens Party loses another politician as Larissa Waters quits over citizenship bungle

FOLLOWING the shock resignation of both Greens deputy leaders, federal politicians born overseas, among them Tony Abbott and Sam Dastyari, have rushed to declare they were not dual citizens.

Greens senator Larissa Waters was forced to resign from federal parliament yesterday due to holding Canadian citizenship. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

• WA VOTERS SHOULD DEMAND BACK THEIR MONEY
• GREENS SENATOR LUDLAM EXPOSED AS A KIWI

THE Greens have been plunged into turmoil by the shock resignations of both of their deputy leaders who were serving in Parliament illegally.

Larissa Waters joined Scott Ludlam in quitting the Senate yesterday after realising she had not renounced her Canadian citizenship.

Mr Ludlam, who was born in New Zealand, was also in breach of section 44 of the Constitution which bans dual citizens from Parliament.

Mr Ludlam and Ms Waters served in the Senate for a combined 15 years and were paid almost $3 million. They are expected to ask the government to waive their debts to the Commonwealth but may face pressure to pay back the money.

Greens senator Larissa Waters soothes her baby Alia Joy in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The embarrassing bungles heap pressure on Greens leader Richard Di Natale, who is already facing a revolt in NSW over the treatment of Senator Lee Rhiannon.

As the eligibility fiasco engulfed the Greens, other federal politicians who were born overseas rushed to declare they were not dual citizens, taking to social media today to clarify their positions.

Nineteen of 25 overseas-born MPs revealed to The Australian today what year they had renounced their dual citizenships.

Labor said it was confident all its members were properly elected, ­including Senator Sam Dastyari, who spent $25,000 on lawyers to get rid of his Iranian citizenship. Former prime minister Tony Abbott, Victorian senator Derryn Hinch and One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts were among others insisting they were eligible to serve in Parliament.

Overseas-born MPs took to social media today to clarify their positions.

Labor senator Sam Dastyari renounced his Iranian citizenship. Picture: Kym Smith

London-born Tony Abbott insists he’s eligible to sit in Parliament. Picture: Kym Smith

Government minister Alan Tudge, who renounced his British citizenship before he was elected, said the Greens had broken clear citizenship rules set in the Constitution.

In the wake of Mr Ludlam’s resignation, Attorney-General George Brandis said the Constitution also called for fines.

FYI rumour mongers: I renounced my UK citizenship in 1993 and here's the proof: pic.twitter.com/tHAeJeqo5T

— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) July 14, 2017

“Whether or not that debt would be waived, as it has been on previous occasions, is a matter for the Special Minister of State, it’s within his discretion,” Senator Brandis said.

Ms Waters, who is 40, admitted she could be asked to repay her salary and said: “I’ll face it if it comes”.

New Zealand-born Greens senator Scott Ludlam announces his resignation from Parliament owing to his holding dual citizenship. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

She apologised for her “grave mistake”, saying she left Canada as a baby and had never returned.

“After Scott’s shock discovery, I immediately sought legal advice, and was devastated to learn that because of 70-year-old Canadian laws I had been a dual citizen from birth,” Ms ­Waters said.

“Canadian law changed a week after I was born and required me to have actively renounced Canadian citizenship. I had not renounced since I was unaware that I was a dual citizen.”

Senator Di Natale said the party would launch a ­review.