Greens deputy Scott Ludlam quits Federal Parliament

GREENS Senator Scott Ludlam is leaving federal parliament after finding out he was improperly elected more than a decade ago.

GREENS Senator Scott Ludlam is leaving federal parliament after finding out he was improperly elected more than a decade ago.

The party’s co-deputy leader said it was recently brought to his attention that he holds dual citizenship of Australia and New Zealand.

Under section 44 of the constitution, that makes him ineligible to hold elected office.

Senator Ludlam labelled it a “ridiculous oversight”.

“I apologise unreservedly for this mistake,” he said in a statement on Friday. “This was my error, something I should have checked when I first nominated for preselection in 2006.” Instead of going through protracted legal proceedings, he is resigning as a senator for Western Australia and co-deputy leader of the Australian Greens. Senator Ludlam was born in Palmerston North in New Zealand and left the country with his family when he was three.

He settled in Australia not long before his ninth birthday, before being naturalised when he was in his mid-teens.

“(I) assumed that was the end of my New Zealand citizenship.”

“It is entirely my responsibility - it wasn’t the way I was hoping to go out.”

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Greens leader Richard Di Natale and Greens Senator Scott Ludlam (R) during Senate Question Time in February. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said he was devastated at the news, but Senator Ludlam’s decision to deal with the issue directly and immediately showed his integrity and character.

“Scott has been an outstanding member of the parliament and of the Greens,” he said in a statement.

“He has been a strong representative for the people of WA and the nation on a range of issues.” He lauded Senator Ludlam’s intelligence on issues from digital rights to homelessness.

“He will continue to be a champion of the Greens movement and a dear friend.” The Senate is expected to refer the matter to the Court of Disputed Returns, which the Greens think will call for a countback of votes from the 2016 election.

University student Jordan Steele-John, 21, has been touted the frontrunner to take the vacant seat.

Mr Steele-John, who has cerebral palsy, had to give up his British citizenship to run for parliament back in 2013.

Senator Ludlam is the fourth senator to leave the upper house this parliamentary term.

Bob Day and Rod Culleton were both ruled ineligible for constitutional reasons, while Liberal senator Chris Back resigned.

Mr Ludlam said he had not had any discussions with the Department of Finance about his nine years of salaries.

Many Australian Parliamentarians were born overseas. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who was born in Wales, held dual citizenship while growing up but renounced her British citizenship prior to entering the federal parliament in 1998.

Senator Ludlam (right) with then Greens leader Bob Brown at Parliament House in Canberra today.

THE FULL TEXT OF SCOTT LUDLAM’S STATEMENT:

Recently, as about a week ago or so, it was brought to my attention that I hold dual citizenship nationality of Australia and New Zealand. Unders. 44 of the constitution that makes me ineligible to hold elected office in the Federal Parliament. I apologise

for this. This is an oversight that was avoidable and it is something I should have fixed up in 2006 when I first nominated. I have no wish to draw out legal uncertainty or create any kind of lengthy dispute, particularly when that section of the constitution is so clear. I am resigning as a Senator for WA and

Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens effective today. Just by way of background. I was born in New Zealand in Palmerston North. Left when I was three years old. Settled in Australia not that long before my ninth birthday. I was naturalised in my mid-teens. At that point I thought you leave New Zealand citizenship behind. That is an avoidable oversight 10 years ago,

that is something that it is entirely my responsibility. It wasn’t the way I was hoping to go out.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, Nick Xenophon Team leader Senator Nick Xenophon (centre) and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari (right) at a press conference in Canberra in May 10. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

There is an enormous amount of work left undone. I recently returned from New York where the United Nations passed a ban putting nuclear weapons on the same legal footing as chemical and biological weapons. That is the work I was hoping to take back into parliament when we resume in August. There is a proposal on the wires today about banning certain forms of maths and making all of our communications less safe. I have loved working in the communications space and that is one of those things that will now be in the hands of others. I am going to miss my colleagues, Rachel in particular, and others, mentors and friends who have been such an important part of my life and work in the nine or so years I have been one of your Federal parliamentarians.

If I had known I would have dealt with it way before. It was brought to our attention a week ago while I was still overseas by someone who had done the digging, for whatever reason. It took a couple of days to confirm with the New Zealand high commission that that was the case. Then I flew home a couple of days early from my trip. Since then, we

have had 48 hours or so to do due diligence and make sure our understanding of the legal situationis clear and make sure my staff entitlements are taken care of. It is the end of the line.