Australia’s citizenship scandal has rolled on with Senator Katy Gallagher becoming the latest politician embroiled in the ongoing saga.
Despite the former ACT chief minister previously claiming she has denounced her British citizenship, it has been revealed her mother was born in Ecuador meaning another potential case of dual-citizenship, The Daily Telegraph reported.
An arriving passenger card stored in the National Archive of Elizabeth Mary Gallagher, born on February 20, 1943, states her country of birth is Ecuador.
Australia’s citizenship scandal has rolled on with Senator Katy Gallagher becoming the latest politician embroiled in the ongoing saga
Despite the former ACT chief minister previously claiming she has denounced her Brtish citizenship, it has been revealed her mother was born in Ecuador meaning another potential case of dual-citizenship
According to the Ecuadorean constitution people hold citizenship if they were born in Ecuador or if they were born abroad to a parent born in the South American country.
But the Labor MP is relaxed on the issue after the the nations law on the matter only came into effect in 2008.
‘Katy is not and has never been a citizen of Ecuador,’ her spokesperson said.
Her case strikes resemblance to that of Barnaby Joyce’s as it is citizenship through descent and not one they sought out.
The news has come to light at the same time a Bill Shorten email was leaked revealing the Opposition’s intent to highlight the devastating after-effect of the dual-citizenship crisis, most notably Barnaby Joyce’s New Zealand citizenship scandal.
He is set to claim power prices, energy security, biosecurity, drought and water security have all been affected by the revelations.
Her case strikes resemblance to that of Barnaby Joyce’s as it is citizenship through descent and not one they sought out
The news has come to light at the same time a Bill Shorten email was leaked revealing the Opposition’s intent to highlight the devastating after-effect of the dual-citizenship crisis
‘Hi all — to continue pressure on Barnaby, can your offices please draft media releases highlighting the key areas in your portfolio that will be at risk from his self-referral to the high court,’ the email reads.
‘The key targets are probably: gas mechanism, biosecurity, drought declarations, NAID, Water.’
Labor has refused to release documents showing if a handful of Labor MPs and senators are dual citizens and have therefore avoided referral to the High Court.
Ms Gallagher has previously been critical of the Nationals leadership saying they face disqualification from parliament.