Labor MP David Feeney resigns over dual citizenship

THE dual citizenship saga has claimed another scalp with Labor MP David Feeney handing in his resignation.

DAVID Feeney, the federal Labor MP who forgot a $2 million house and then forgot he was a British citizen, has resigned from his Victorian seat of Batman.

Mr Feeney announced he was “unable to disprove that I am a dual citizen” after failing to locate evidence that he renounced his citizenship before entering parliament.

“Having regard for my duty under section 44 of the Constitution, I have today written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives resigning as an MP effective immediately,” Mr Feeney told media in Melbourne.

“I have spoken to my family and I have decided that I will not be seeking ALP preselection for this by-election.”

The development guarantees Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will have a gruelling start to 2018 and an election showdown with the Greens.

Mr Feeney came to national attention in 2016 when it was revealed he had failed to include a $2.3 million house on his official register of assets.

And last year it became clear he had no evidence to support a claim he had shed British citizenship.

That meant he was a dual citizen, and according to the Constitution ineligible to sit in Parliament.

He was referred to the High Court after acknowledging he couldn’t find paperwork to back up his claim he had shed British citizenship inherited from his Northern Ireland father.

Asked if he had formally resigned, Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday: “I’ll let David speak for himself. I’m sure he’ll make comment when he’s ready.”

Labor MP David Feeney looks clearly confused when asked if his party would keep the Schoolkids bonus. Picture: Screengrab.

Mr Feeney was one of two politicians Labor referred to the High Court last year to clarify whether they were dual citizens, making them ineligible to stand for Parliament.

Senator Katy Gallagher is also waiting to learn her fate.

The dual citizenship saga has already claimed the political careers of a number of senators including former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce (who has now returned to Parliament following a by-election), deputy leader Fiona Nash, Liberals’ Stephen Parry and John Alexander, Greens’ co-deputy leaders Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam, One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts, NXT’s Skye Kakoschke- Moore and independent Jacqui Lambie.

The High Court spared independent Nick Xenophon (who decided to resign anyway) and former federal Liberal minister Matt Canavan, ruling in October they were able to remain in Parliament.

Mr Feeney came to national prominence in 2016 when he accidentally forgot to declare his $2.3 million Melbourne house and was then left embarrassed during questioning over Labor’s plans for the schoolkids bonus and other benefits.

The Government last December demanded Mr Feeney resign immediately as had Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce in New England, and Liberal John Alexander in Bennelong after doubts about of their citizenship status.

Both regained their seats in by-elections. However, it has been considered unlikely Mr Feeney could do the same.

Mr Feeney will not recontest the marginal seat in a by-election and former ACTU president Ged Kearney is likely to be Labor’s candidate.

All six MPs in Batman since 1949 have been Labor, but in the 2016 election the Greens came close to wrecking that record.

They calculate their chances are even stronger this year and point to polling campaigners said showed 75 per cent of Batman voters opposed the giant Adani coal mine proposed in Queensland, and the source of environmental concerns affecting the Great Barrier Reef.

“Regardless who the ALP candidate may be, our campaign will power ahead 100 per cent,” said Jake Wishart, an anti-Adani campaigner in Batman.

“We call on Bill Shorten and shadow cabinet to categorically rule out support for this dirty coal mine.”

The Greens have already selected a candidate, Alex Bhathal, but she is reportedly the subject of an internal complaint from party members over her lack of support for local Greens councillors.