Nick Xenophon is the latest politician to become embroiled in Australia’s parliamentary citizenship scandal after it was revealed he could be British.
The South Australian senator made enquiries to the UK Home Office this week regarding his status, after discovering he could have British citizenship through his father.
While Senator Xenophon was born in Australia and has previously assured he is not a Cypriot or Greek citizen, his father is believed to have come to Australia on a British passport.
Nick Xenophon (pictured) is the latest politician to become embroiled in Australia’s parliamentary citizenship scandal after it was revealed he made enquiries to the UK Home Office this week to check his status
Theodoros Xenophou was born in Cyprus, which remained a British Colony until 1960, before he migrated to Australia, where Senator Xenophon was born.
The Senator confirmed that should his enquiries return that he is a British citizen he would not resign from the senate, according to The Age.
‘We are trying to get some further information, we are trying to get some clarity. Hopefully we get it in the early hours of Saturday morning,’ he told the publication.
‘All I can do is check and release whatever I get. Whatever happens, happens.’ he said.
Senator Xenophon also assured that the matter would be referred to the High Court, alongside other prominent cases such as that of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
‘You let it go to the High Court, that is what you do. That is the appropriate thing to do, I think,’ he said.
Senator Xenophon’s father was born in Cyprus, which remained a British Colony until 1960, before migrating to Australia
Records are believed to show that his father came to Australia on a British passport, throwing doubt on Senator Xenophon’s citizenship status
He also described the situation as a ‘train-wreck for parliament’ during and interview with Sky News.
Social media was awash Friday morning as users poked fun at the situation and the growing number of parliamentary members affected.
‘In Canberra for AMA Federal Council meetings. Citizenship status: definitely not British. Unlike Senator Xenophon,’ surgeon Jill Tomlinson wrote.
‘OMG When will it END?’ one user added, while another stated: ‘Will there be anyone left in parliament?’
The senator’s announcement follows a series of Australian politicians who have had doubts cast on their citizenship status, including Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash, Malcolm Roberts and Matt Canavan.
Former Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Walters also resigned after they discovered they were dual citizens of New Zealand and Canada respectively.
Social media users poked fun at the situation Friday morning after Lousie Yaxley confirmed the news (top), with many commenting about the growing number of parliamentary members affected
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is among the growing numbers of parliamentary members whose case will be taken to the High Court
Larissa Waters (left) quit as a Greens senator after learning she was still a dual Canadian citizen, while Scott Ludlam (right) also quit as a Greens senator in July after learning he was a dual New Zealand citizen
It comes just days after Lateline host Emma Alberici created an awkward television moment by telling the senator he had a ‘foreign name’.
The ABC presenter was winding up a 10-minute interview when she deadpanned the observation ‘Xenophon sounds like a foreign name’.
The South Australian senator smiled awkwardly before answering the journalist by saying he did not understand her point.
Ms Alberici briefly apologised before asking if he was a dual citizen.
‘I’m sorry. Are you sure you’re on solid ground in the parliament that you don’t have any secret citizenship lurching in your past?,’ she asked.
it comes just days after Lateline host Emma Alberici created an awkward television moment after telling Senator Nick Xenophon he had a foreign-sounding name
The lawmaker, who was born in Adelaide to Cypriot and Greek parents, explained how he had sought assurances in writing from the Greek Embassy and the Cyriot High Commission in Australia that he was never a citizen of those Mediterranean nations.
‘I never want it and if there’s any possibility I could have it, don’t give it to me,’ Senator Xenophon said.
‘I’m already in trouble in the Greek and Cypriot communities for stating publicly in the ethnic media that I never want to be a Greek or Cypriot citizen so give me a break.’
Adelaide-born senator Nick Xenophon said that he was assured he was not a Greek or Cypriot citizen