The Latest: Australian senators must prove their citizenship

Published November 12, 2017

The Latest on the citizenship issue among Australian lawmakers (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

Australia's major political parties have agreed on a path toward a resolution of a dual citizenship crisis that threatens the government's grip on power.

The agreement reached Monday gives all Australian senators three weeks to provide documentary proof they were not foreign citizens when they were elected in violation of the constitution.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's conservative coalition could lose two seats at by-elections next month after a lawmaker resigned Saturday because he had likely inherited British citizenship from his English-born father.

Bipartisan support of the agreement ensures the Senate will endorse it later Monday. Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said she expected the House of Representatives would endorse a similar citizenship registry when it next sits on Nov. 27.

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9:45 a.m.

The Australian government says it will invite a court to disqualify at least two opposition lawmakers from Parliament for being dual nationals in a deepening citizenship crisis that threatens the administration's grip on power.

The ruling coalition faces the threat of losing two seats at by-elections after government lawmaker John Alexander on Saturday resigned from Parliament because he had likely inherited British citizenship.

Senior minister Chris Pyne on Monday called on at least two opposition lawmakers to follow Alexander's example by quitting over questions surrounding their citizenship.

If they refused, Pyne said his coalition would get the House of Representatives to refer them to the High Court to rule whether they were eligible.

Australia is rare if not unique in the world in banning dual nationals from sitting in Parliament.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/the-latest-australian-senators-must-prove-their-citizenship