Dual citizenship drama: Four Labor MPs, one Independent tumble in one day

Just when you thought you’d heard the last of it, the dual citizenship drama has returned with a vengeance. Following the High Court’s decision on Wednesday to rule Labor Senator Katy Gallagher ineligible to hold her ACT seat, four more MPs have announced their sudden resignation.

Independent Rebekha Sharkie, and Labor MPs Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Josh Wilson have all stepped down because they believe themselves to be in breach of section 44 of the constitution. The rule stipulates politicians can’t be a dual national and sit in parliament.

The sudden resignations will spark five by-elections across the country — all at a cost to taxpayers. The 2018 Budget did not stipulate any additional costs for a constitutional crises, but according to the ABC, the Government had previously set aside $11.6 million to deal with “legal costs and liabilities arising from the consideration of constitutional matters by the High Court”.

It follows last year’s shock exodus of Senators and MPs after nine elected members were found to have held dual citizenship.

Following the court’s decision against Gallagher this morning, senior government members called on Labor MPs to face facts over their citizenships and either refer their cases to the High Court or resign.

Attorney-General Christian Porter demanded Opposition leader Bill Shorten get his house in order and said those who tried to argue their cases were different were “talking absolute rubbish”.

“All dual citizens of Great Britain — who were dual citizens after the close of nominations, who are presently ineligible to sit in the Federal Parliament, and who should not be sitting in the Federal Parliament — those four people must resign. They must resign today,” he said.

“Bill Shorten must require the resignation of those three Labor members today, and that must occur before close of business today.”

In her statement after the court’s decision, Gallagher apologised to her constituents, who will now be forced into a by-election.

“To the people of the ACT, I’m very sorry that this disruption has occurred to one of your federal representatives,” the former ACT chief minister said.

“To have my place in the Senate end like this today is very deeply disappointing, but I believe that I have more to contribute to public life. I will take the time to talk with Labor Party members on how I can do this over the months ahead.”

Sharkie, Wilson, Lamb and Keay have all echoed Gallagher’s words, and say they will be contesting their seats in their upcoming by-elections.

What are your thoughts on this? Can you believe it’s still going on? Should all MPs with questions over their citizenship resign until they’ve sorted it out?