Aborigine’s ‘Irish’ father puts his MP status at risk

Patrick Dodson MP, one of Australia’s most prominent Aboriginal elders, has become the latest politician whose nationality has come under question.

In yet another bizarre twist in the country’s dual citizenship law which has so far forced six MPS out of parliament, Mr Dodson, a Labor MP from the Yawuru people in Western Australia, is under question because John Dodson, his father, is described in profiles as Irish-australian.

If he was born in Ireland, the MP may be deemed ineligible to serve. Mr Dodson said in a statement his father was born in Australia and not Ireland.