Third Australian minister reveals dual nationality

MALCOLM TURNBULL, the Australian prime minister, was dealt another blow yesterday after a third government minister revealed she may have been unlawfully elected because of her dual nationality.

Fiona Nash, deputy leader of the Nationals junior coalition party, told the senate, Australia’s upper house, she had been advised that she may be British because of her Scottish father. Ms Nash said she would not step down as a cabinet minister unless the High Court ruled she should be disqualified.

Barnaby Joyce, the deputy prime minister and Nationals leader, told parliament on Monday that he had recently discovered he was a New Zealander through descent. Mr Joyce accepted the resources portfolio from cabinet colleague Matt Canavan when he stepped down as a minister last month, as he revealed his mother applied for his Italian citizenship without his permission when he was aged 25.

A 116-year-old section of the constitution bans dual nationals from parliament. Critics say it no longer suits the modern multicultural Australia.