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Citizenship: Malcolm Roberts, Scott Ludlam only politicians ‘wrongly elected’

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts exits the High Court after being questioned by government lawyers over his UK citizenship.

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts exits the High Court after being questioned by government lawyers over his UK citizenship. Photo: AAP

The Commonwealth will argue only One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts and former Greens senator Scott Ludlam should be found to have been wrongly elected to Parliament at the last election.

If that argument is successful, the political career of former Greens senator Larissa Waters could be revived just months after her snap resignation.

Senator Roberts, Mr Ludlam and Ms Waters are among seven politicians facing the High Court, after questions were raised about whether their dual citizenship made them ineligible to hold office.

Section 44 of the constitution bans anyone with dual citizenship from being elected to Parliament.

Submissions filed on behalf of Attorney-General George Brandis on Tuesday afternoon argued the other five politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, should not be kicked out of Parliament.

The Commonwealth’s submissions, written by Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue, argue the constitution should only be interpreted to disqualify those who have “voluntarily obtained, or retained” foreign citizenship.

It argues a “person who does not know that they are, or ever were, a foreign citizen” should not be ruled ineligible.

That argument goes to the heart of the cases put forward by Mr Joyce, Nationals deputy leader Fiona Nash, former minister Matt Canavan and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon.

All claim they never had any knowledge they could be foreign nationals by descent, and the laws of other countries should not force them out of Parliament.

Mr Donaghue’s argument would also defend Ms Waters.

larissa Waters quits over citizenship bungle

Waters’ resignation came under a week after her colleague Ludlam resigned. Photo: AAP

Ms Waters and former colleague Mr Ludlam already quit Parliament after it was revealed they were dual citizens of Canada and New Zealand respectively.

Last week, the High Court ruled Senator Roberts was indeed a British citizen at the time of the last election.

Justice Patrick Deane threw out Senator Roberts’ arguments that he had only ever believed he was Australian.

Senator Roberts was born to a Welsh father, signed a form as a teenager which stated he was a UK citizen, and had enough concern to contact British authorities to check whether he was a UK citizen before the 2016 election – but still argued he had not breached the constitution.

Door open for Waters return

ABC election analyst Antony Green believes that if the High Court agrees with the Commonwealth’s arguments, it could leave the door open for Ms Waters to return to Parliament immediately.

In that case, because Ms Waters would not have been in breach of the constitution at the time of the election, a recount of the Queensland Senate votes would not be needed.

As she already resigned from Parliament, the Queensland Greens could nominate her to replace herself – and ask Queensland State Parliament to ratify her return to Canberra.

Brandis’ history lesson for High Court

The Attorney-General’s submissions also delve into the drafting of the constitution back in the late 1800s.

Mr Donaghue argued the men charged with writing Australia’s founding document had revised the section of the constitution ruling out dual nationals from holding office.

The previous versions suggested an individual had to formally take actions to become a foreign national.

The Commonwealth will argue that intention cannot be overlooked and marries up with their claims in the seven cases now before the court, more than a century later.

The High Court will hear the cases on October 10-12.

-ABC

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