Senator Nick Xenophon believes the issue of dual citizenship of MPs is becoming a major distraction for federal parliament and the government. He, therefore, suggests the best way to resolve the issue is to have the citizenship status of every federal MP verified by an independent audit. However, Xenophon’s suggestion has been rejected by Labor’s Chris Bowen and Liberal’s Mathias Cormann, who believe the issue should be left in the hands of the High Court. From The Australian:
Senator Xenophon, whose parents are from Greece and Cyprus, warned that the dual citizenship issue hanging over MPs would be a “monumental distraction” for the parliament, government and country until it was dealt with “once and for all”…
“The uncertainty will be like a ball and chain around the government,” Senator Xenophon told The Australian. “The sooner we have a comprehensive audit, the better. It needs to be someone who’s independent. You either appoint an independent panel or second people from either the Auditor-General’s or (Commonwealth) Ombudsman’s offices.
“I’d be happy to comply. Maybe the only way to clear this up is to have the audit; if it ends up the High Court has to deal with a dozen matters, at least we can settle where we’re at”…
Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen dismissed suggestions an audit was needed and put the onus on politicians to adhere to section 44, particularly those born overseas or with foreign-born parents and grandparents…
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the “one authority” that could provide conclusive and authoritative judgment regarding constitutional matters was the High Court.
“Everybody has to manage their own affairs,” he told Sky News’s Australian Agenda.
I’m with Xenophon on this. Let’s deal with the issue in one hit, once and for all.
