Bizarre twist in citizen drama
BRITISH authorities have not been able to prove Liberal MP John Alexander was a dual citizen, in an embarrassing twist in the ongoing saga engulfing Federal Parliament.
The Aussie tennis champion, who sparked a by- election when he quit Parliament last weekend, revealed yesterday that the UK Home Office had not found any evidence to show he had obtained British citizenship through his father.
“I had official notification from the Home Office that I am indeed something that I always believed I am: Australian and solely Australian,” he said.
Mr Alexander said he had successfully renounced any entitlement to British citizenship, meaning he was eligible to try to win back his seat of Bennelong on December 16 in the by- election against former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally.
It comes as dual citizen senator Jacqui Lambie’s replacement faces his own High Court battle to enter Parliament — and if he loses, Ms Lambie could get her job back.
Devonport Mayor Steve Martin was second on the Jacqui Lambie Network ticket to represent Tasmania in the Senate at last year’s election.
Mr Martin announced yesterday he was willing to take Ms Lambie’s place after she was forced to resign because she held British citizenship and was ineligible to be elected.
But Mr Martin said he realised he may have to be the “guinea pig” to test whether local government leaders were legally allowed to run for Federal Parliament, with Section 44 of the Constitution blocking anyone who holds “an office of profit under the Crown”.
If Mr Martin was not able to take the Senate seat, the next candidate in line has indicated he does not want the job, potentially opening a casual vacancy for Ms Lambie to return.
Mr Martin said 38 mayors had been elected to Parliament, and he had advice from former Clerk of the Senate Rosemary Laing which suggested he was on safe ground.
I REALISE I MAY HAVE TO BE THE GUINEA PIG TO TEST WHETHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO RUN FOR FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. STEVE MARTIN