Another Federal MP dragged into eligibility debacle

AUSTRALIA’S Parliament is embroiled in turmoil as the eligibility of more MPs is called into question over the expanding citizenship scandal.

AUSTRALIA’S Parliament is embroiled in turmoil as the eligibility of more MPs is called into question over the expanding citizenship scandal.

A One Nation official raised concerns about Senator Malcolm Roberts’ citizenship just days before the close of nominations in last year’s election. Picture: Kym Smith

The Liberal Party yesterday scrambled for proof that Chisholm MP Julia Banks did not hold dual citizenship with Greece, which would have threatened the Federal Government’s razor-thin majority in the lower house.

Senior Victorian Liberals had raised fears Ms Banks was ineligible to stand for election.

However, last night a Liberal Party spokesman said the party received confirmation from the Greek Embassy that Ms Banks was not registered as a Greek citizen.

In Queensland, Labor’s Longman MP Susan Lamb refused to comment on what steps she took to ensure she never held or had renounced UK citizenship, which could have been passed down from her Scottish father.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits newly elected member for Chisolm Julia Banks in Oakleigh. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Yesterday’s scramble came as The Courier-Mail can reveal a One Nation official raised concerns about Senator Malcolm Roberts’ citizenship just days before the close of nominations in last year’s election.

Under the Constitution a dual citizen is not eligible to be a federal senator or an MP.

The dual citizenship scandal has already claimed two Greens senators, Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam, and seen LNP Senator Matt Canavan resign from Cabinet while he awaits the High Court determination of his eligibility.

Ms Lamb said in her maiden speech to Parliament that her father had come to Queensland from Scotland.

The British Nationality Act 1981 states a “person born outside the United Kingdom ... shall be a British citizen if at the time of the birth his father or mother ... is a British citizen otherwise than by descent”.

A spokesman for Ms Lamb said she had no comment to make on what steps she had taken to check her citizenship status, or if she had renounced any potential UK citizenship.

But he referred to a statement from ALP national secretary Noah Carroll who said the party had a thorough vetting process to ensure candidates were eligible.

“We are confident every member of the Labor caucus has been properly elected,” he said.

Senator Roberts, who was born in India to a Welsh father and an Australian mother and who did not become an Australian citizen until he was 19, continued to fend off calls to produce documents he said proved he was not a dual citizen when elected.

In an email dated June 3, 2016, obtained by The Courier-Mail, Senator Roberts insists to One Nation that he is not a dual citizen despite not becoming an Australian citizen until 1974.

“I am not a citizen of any other country. ie, I am not a dual citizen,” he said in the email.

On Thursday night he told Sky News that last year he emailed the British High Commission on May 1, inquiring if he held UK citizenship.

On June 6 he again stated he renounced immediately any citizenship he might hold.

However he did not receive an official statement from the UK Home Office until December 2016, which was nearly six months after the election.

There was speculation yesterday that Senator Pauline Hanson’s sister Judy Smith could replace Senator Roberts, if his eligibility is challenged and the High Court rules against him.

While Ms Smith was fourth on One Nation’s Queensland Senate ticket, Fraser Anning, who held the third spot, faces bankruptcy proceedings.

Originally published as Another Federal MP dragged into eligibility debacle