Australian MP resigns over dual nationality in new blow for government

By Alison Bevege

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's citizenship crisis has taken a new twist as another member of parliament resigned on Saturday, threatening the narrow majority of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's ruling coalition.

 

The constitution bars dual nationals from parliament, and Turnbull's centre-right coalition government was thrown into disarray last month by a High Court ruling that five of them were ineligible to be lawmakers.

 

On Saturday, Conservative Liberal party MP John Alexander told reporters he was no longer certain that he was solely Australian, and that meant he had to resign.

 

"It is my obligation that I must resign," Alexander told a news conference in Sydney. "That's what I will do. I think there is a great need for certainty, to clarify the situation and to do so as expeditiously as possible."

 

Alexander had been waiting for Britain's Home Office to clarify whether he held British citizenship by descent. It is not known whether they responded.

 

He would have to confirm sole Australian citizenship before fighting a by-election to regain his seat.

 

Alexander said he planned to contest the by-election which The Sydney Morning Herald said must be announced no later than Monday, to allow the minimum 33-day campaign required to hold the poll on December 16.

 

Turnbull must rely on two independents to vote with his coalition to safeguard his position and block the passage of legislation his government opposes.

 

Only the two independents now guarantee his position after the High Court ruling expelled three members of the Liberal-National coalition government from parliament, with a fourth resigning days later, after confirming his dual nationality.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-11

and another one bites the dust . 

now , go thru all retired MPs , and those found to be in breach also should have there pensions removed .

I thought they had been given an option to dissavow dual citizenship, to stay in place.

My understanding is that you may be eligable for dual citizenship but do not hold citizenship of another country unless actually applied for and granted. I have been through all this with my own children.

Is this John Alexander the tennis player?

As all  original Australians except for the natives are immigrants,  what is this story

really about?

Geezer

which nationality do have the other  FOUR  ?

4 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

As all  original Australians except for the natives are immigrants,  what is this story

really about?

Geezer

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_44_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia

Thanks for the info.

Geezer

20 hours ago, superglue said:

Is this John Alexander the tennis player?

Yes

So another political parasite having to go now and find a real job. If only the rest would follow suit. Kind of like the old Greek lottery system, people get chosen at random to be in government, the rational being never give a person that wants the power have the job. System lasted a few hundred years, anyone that argues that the unqualified would be running the place hasn't had a good look at the dregs we already get.