Federal Election 2016: Greens candidate Muhammad Salman to renounce Pakistani citizenship

WOULD-be Greens candidate for the seat of Burt, Muhammad Salman, has “taken all reasonable steps to renounce” his Pakistani citizenship, says the party.

Australian Greens party candidate for the seat of Burt, Muhammad Salman.

WOULD-be Greens candidate for the seat of Burt, Muhammad Salman, has “taken all reasonable steps to renounce” his Pakistani citizenship before Friday’s official nominations close, says the party.

Greens campaign manager Andrew Beaton said today he was “confident” that the 36-year-old was eligible to be a candidate in the July 2 federal election.

“As per section 44 of the constitution and the 1992 High Court case of Sykes v Cleary (1992) Muhammad has provided me with a signed and JP witnessed Renunciation of his Pakistani citizenship and has thus taken all reasonable steps to renounce his other citizenship before nomination,” Mr Beaton said today.

“I am confident that he is eligible.”

The Australian Electoral Commission states that any person who is “under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or citizen is entitled to the rights of privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power” is disqualified from being a candidate in a federal election.

On the Greens website, Mr Salman says he has lived in the new seat of Burt for six years.

“It has been a pleasure for my wife, children and I to live in the new electorate of Burt for over six years with wonderful neighbours, beautiful parks for our children to play in, wetlands to walk through, hills with city views and beautiful rivers enriching our environment,” he said on the website.

“This is an important part of Whadjuk-Nyoongar country and metropolitan Perth and we owe it our respect.

“Being a skilled migrant myself, I am a very strong advocate for always helping other migrants, refugees and our diverse cultural groups in overcoming barriers to successful engagement in our broader Australian population, so that we have more inclusive and culturally richer society where everyone can reach their full potential.

“I love our multiculturalism, our generosity and the way we put people first.”