GarryP

High court isn't getting it's finger out. Not even meeting on the slew of illegitimate 'politicians' till 10th Oct at the earliest. One and half months of wasted time when nothing of substance will be done or accepted.

Lawyers, not so much 'swinging into action', as gently sauntering towards doing some work, after a nice meal, and a long sleep ...

GarryP

Caravan, you know, the one who blamed his mum for signing him up for citizenship at 25, is now admitting he's been an Italian citizen since he was 2.

Matt Canavan and Malcolm Roberts change their stories in High Court citizenship hearing

And "there is no climate change" Roberts now admits that he didn't even fill in the application for renunciation till AFTER he was elected.

Funny how the tune has changed after they had to tell it to a court...

Beoz

Sigh (sigh is so much fun). Canavan is going after the citizenship by decent argument where the SG will argue section 44 should not include citizenship by decent.

spouse of scouse

If they were decent, none of them would be in this mess

scrubbedexpat098

Beoz

You got it.

Such a left winger changing the topic ... ho ho ho

GarryP

If it were straight 'descent', then he would be a citizen from birth. The fact that he's admitted 2 means there was some action taken to register (probably by his mum). And that means he's screwed, since it was most definitely his responsibility to check and renounce.

Personally I don't thinking any of those trying the "descent doesn't count" line on will get anywhere - citizenship is citizenship.

Beoz

I guess the high court will decide one way or another.

Here's a scenario. Citzenship laws of other countries change. Just look at Britains citizenship evolution.

Lets say you are a sitting MP and the country of your mother changes their citizenship laws and adopts you as a citizenship. You are unlikely to know. When and if you find out you have been sitting unaware of the change.

What should be done?

scrubbedexpat098

Ahem, 'descide' haha, kin grammar nazis

GarryP

Nothing, since you were elected as a non-dual citizen. However by the time of the next election, you need to have renounced, or you can't legal attest you are not a dual citizen. Which practically means you need to get to it immediately, since you don't know when the next election might be.

And it's your responsibility to know, same as 101 other things the law says you don't get to claim ignorance over.

Beoz

The police have never tried to do me in on grammar (there's probably something there). Just quick and sloppy typing.

Beoz

And there is some serious work checking out the law of other countries - multiple countries for many people. All on tax payers money of course, every time there is an election.

Beoz

Derryn Hinch is a yank.

Hardly.

Got to feel for this bloke. He's poured over every rule to get to the senate, not and easy thing when you've been in prison, and gets done by still having a social security number from the 70's, which sticks with you for life.

Section 44 is a farce, but it will be fun later in the year when they unleash on the Labor party as most of them haven't actually renounced their citizenship, its going to be a blood bath.

GarryP

Apparantly the libs don't want him referred to the High Court. Thing is, the referral is on the 'rights and privileges' bit, and they don't want the high court to have to think about that - in case they rule harshly, which would impact many more coalition MPs.

Govt won't support Hinch High Court referral

Beoz

The govt reckon its a publicity stunt because he's already attempted to get rid of it.

They are probably right. That Melbourne bogan loves a bit of publicity.