Dual citizens in Parliament

[LP]

What a bunch of dills.

I think the term is crooks!

[dodge]

Lods - can you imagine the campaign and who gets elected?  I really don't know now with so many unelected Senate members and the couple of by-elections.  Maybe it is a good chance to wipe the slate clean - although that was also meant to happen last time.  It is no wonder that Brexit, Trump etc get up.

[Gointocarlton]

Whats the actual purpose of the rule? If am born and bred here, but have dual cit due to a parent, whats the big deal?

[Lods]

Lods - can you imagine the campaign and who gets elected?  I really don't know now with so many unelected Senate members and the couple of by-elections.  Maybe it is a good chance to wipe the slate clean - although that was also meant to happen last time.  It is no wonder that Brexit, Trump etc get up.

Before we did go to a full election we would have to make sure every candidate was legit
That in itself would be a bit of a task.

You have to wonder though.... until this problem became an issue how many people have sat in Parliament over the years and been dual citizens.
It's the constitution that needs to change.
On swearing in as a member of Parliament surely it just needs a statement along the lines of "I hereby relinquish any previous allegiances and citizenship and pledge that my loyalty is to Australia alone."

[DJC]

Whats the actual purpose of the rule? If am born and bred here, but have dual cit due to a parent, whats the big deal?

The purpose is to try to ensure that our elected representatives don't have allegiance to any other country.  I think that the requirement is eminently sensible and it shouldn't be hard for those who put their hands up for election to ensure that they have renounced any other citizenship.  If they can't manage that, they shouldn't be in parliament.

Of course, as we have seen recently, China has been able obtain allegiance from some parliamentarians by offering financial inducements, donations etc.  That should be a sackable offence too.

[cookie2]

If your parents barracked for the Bummers would that make you a Bummer supporter by descent??  :o

[Amers]

If your parents barracked for the Bummers would that make you a Bummer supporter by descent??  :o

Not this little Navy Blue duck, I renounced my alliegance a long time ago...

[cookie2]

Not this little Navy Blue duck, I renounced my alliegance a long time ago...

But did you get the official paperwork A? 

[ElwoodBlues1]

Sarah Hanson Young cant be removed from parliament can she?...she has a double barrelled name is that close enough for dual citizenship......?

[Thryleon]

Not this little Navy Blue duck, I renounced my alliegance a long time ago...

+1 dad was a bomber, mum was indifferent, but grandfather on that side was a Hawk.

I went straight to the Navy Blue!