Another day, another MP embroiled in the dual citizenship scandal that has already claimed the seats of five politicians.
Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may have inherited Greek citizenship from his mother, which would make him ineligible to sit in Parliament.
The country’s citizenship is automatically passed down ‘if said person is born to a parent of Greek nationality’ even if it wasn’t activated.
Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may have inherited Greek citizenship from his mother, which would make him ineligible to sit in Parliament
‘That is, the offspring of a Greek Citizen, even if the parent has not exercised his/her Right to Citizenship,’ the embassy’s website states.
Mr Hawke, who was born in Wollongong after his mother immigrated to Australia in the 1950s, denied he ever held Green citizenship.
‘I was born in Wollongong, have lived my whole life in Australia and have only ever solely held Australian citizenship,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘I am an Australian citizen only and have never held or acquired or sought Greek or any other citizenship.’
Mr Hawke, who was born in Wollongong after his mother immigrated to Australia in the 1950s, denied he ever held Green citizenship
Though Greek citizenship is automatically passed on, dual citizens still have to be ‘duly registered in the Records of a Municipality of the Hellenic Republic’.
Mr Hawke was the third MP to face questions about their Greek heritage after his Liberal colleague Julia Banks and Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos.
The Greek Embassy at the time confirmed Ms Banks wasn’t registered and Mr Sinodinos said he had ‘never held Greek citizenship’.
Mr Hawke spoke of his Greek heritage in his first speech to Parliament, describing how his family settled in Australia after the Second World War.
Mr Hawke was the third MP to face questions about their Greek heritage after his Liberal colleague Julia Banks and Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos (centre)
He also tweeted about it in 2014, saying: ‘I can’t help being born half Greek, in fact I’m proud of it.’
Questions about Mr Hawke’s eligibility came just days after Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg was accused of holding Hungarian citizenship.
Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his Nationals colleague Fiona Nash, and One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts were all booted out of Parliament last month for holding dual citizenships.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten last week demanded all MPs have their citizenship audited but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull refused, saying it was for the High Court to decide.
The High Court last month ruled five MPs should not have been elected, but cleared Nick Xenophon and Liberal minister Matt Canavan