Senator Jacqui Lambie tearful farewell
In the latest twist in the federal Parliament’s ongoing
citizenship saga – which has claimed five senators, as well as Deputy
Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce – Senator Lambie will now face scrutiny
over her citizenship status.
Tasmanian independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed her
father was born in Scotland, but strongly denies any claims she may hold dual
citizenship as a result.
The news comes just two days after Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull announced he would move for federal MPs and senators to provide their
citizenship documentation within a three-week period.
But she says she has “no concerns” about her citizenship or
her parents’.
“I am proud of my Scottish ancestry and my father is, too,”
Senator Lambie said.
Senator Lambie was not the only federal parliamentarian to
have their citizenship status questioned on Wednesday, as Braddon Labor MP
Justine Keay also faced fresh calls to test her eligibility to serve in
the Parliament.
Jacqui Lambie has declared she has "so much more"
to achieve in Canberra after being forced to quit Parliament as the eighth
casualty in the months-long citizenship crisis.
Revealing her British citizenship through her Scottish-born
father, Ms Lambie told the Senate on Tuesday she had "worked hard to be a
voice for those who don't often get much of a voice in this chamber" and
said she intended to return to federal politics.
The outgoing Tasmanian senator drew warm praise from Labor,
Coalition and crossbench colleagues, who lined up to embrace her after her
speech.
"We have all benefited from your company, your wisdom,
your life experience and, in particular, from the passion. Passion is a word
that is used too freely, too loosely, in politics," Senator Brandis
said.
The British government confirmed to Ms Lambie on Tuesday
morning that she had inherited citizenship from her paternal grandfather. In an
emotional account, she said her Scotland-born father had mistakenly believed
his father had renounced his citizenship.
The man set to take Ms Lambie's place, Jacqui Lambie Network
candidate Steve Martin, said being Mayor of Devonport was his full-time
job but he was not concerned about a possible breach of a section 44 (iv) of
the constitution, which forbids a candidate from holding an office of profit
under the Crown.
If Mr Martin was unable to sit, his spot would likely flow
through to the third candidate, Robert Waterman.
The government and Labor have agreed on a disclosure measure
aimed at resolving the citizenship fiasco. It will compel all MPs to disclose
the details of their birth, heritage of their parents and grandparents, and
evidence that any second citizenship was properly renounced.
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