Senator Matt Canavan steps aside from Cabinet as citizenship questioned
QUEENSLAND senator Matt Canavan has stood aside after revealing he is a dual citizen of Australia and Italy. He blamed his mum.
QUEENSLAND senator Matt Canavan has stood aside from Federal Cabinet amid doubts about his citizenship.
He was born on the Gold Coast but, according to the Italian Government, he is a citizen of Italy.
While Senator Canavan has never set foot in the country, his mother lodged documents with the Italian consulate in 2006 to become a citizen.
“In doing so, it would appear that she made an application for me to become an Italian citizen as well,” he told a media conference in Brisbane this evening.
“While I knew that my mother had become an Italian citizen, I had no knowledge that I, myself, had become an Italian citizen — nor had I requested to become an Italian citizen.”
It was confirmed that Senator Canavan was registered an Italian citizen in January 2007, even though he had not received any correspondence from authorities about his status.
His mother only told him last week about his potential Italian citizenship when Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam both resigned after discovering they were dual citizens.
Ms Waters, the former deputy Greens leader, resigned on July 18 after it was revealed she is a dual citizen of Australia and Canada.
Her departure followed Senator Ludlam’s undoing a week earlier after he discovered he was a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand and therefore ineligible for Parliament.
The party’s co-leader took full blame for the error. He said it was “something I should have checked when I first nominated for preselection in 2006”.
Under Section 44 of the Constitution, a citizen of two or more countries is ineligible to stand for Parliament.
Senator Canavan said it was not his intention to resign from the Senate, but given the uncertainty around the matter he had stood aside until the matter was resolved.
Senator @mattjcan & I disagree on almost everything, especially #Adani, but my heart goes out to him, family & staff with dual citizen news
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) July 25, 2017
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will act as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia in the meantime.
Attorney-General George Brandis said the Government would refer the matter to the High Court when Parliament reconvened in a fortnight.
The Government has taken advice from the Solicitor-General and is seeking advice from experts in Italian citizenship law.
“It is the Government’s preliminary view that, because the registration was obtained without Senator Canavan’s knowledge or consent, that he is not in breach of section 44 of the constitution,” Senator Brandis said.
Full text of statement issued by Matthew Canavan
In 2006, my mother lodged documents with the Italian consulate in Brisbane to become an Italian citizen. In doing so, it would appear that she made an application for me to become an Italian citizen as well. I was 25 years old at the time.
While I knew that my mother had become an Italian citizen I had no knowledge that I myself had become an Italian citizen. Until last week I had no suspicion that I could be an Italian citizen. I was not born in Italy and have never been to Italy.
Following the reporting of Senator Ludlum and Senator Waters, my mother raised with me the possibility that I was an Italian citizen last week.
The Italian authorities have confirmed that the application for Italian citizenship was not signed by me. To my knowledge I have not received any correspondence from Italian authorities about my citizenship status, and they have not been able to provide any such records.
In the short time available I have not been able to obtain definitive legal advice as to whether my registration as an Italian citizen, without my knowledge or consent, was valid under Italian law. I am seeking to obtain that advice presently.
On the basis of the advice the Government has obtained it is not my intention to resign from the Senate.
Originally published as Senator Matt Canavan steps aside from Cabinet as citizenship questioned
Bombshell detail in ‘worst pedo’ case
The actions of a man dubbed “Australia’s worst pedophile” had been on the police radar before - but it would be years until police had enough evidence to arrest and charge him.
‘Woke’: Concerns over ‘far-left’ shift in Aus
An Australian lawyer and former refugee has challenged the ‘anti-woke’ arguments which are ‘destructive’ for society.
Long-serving MP bows out
A long-serving MP will bow out at the next election after 17 years in the job, with the Prime Minister announcing a new candidate for the seat.