YOUNG-BASED Senator Fiona Nash has been caught up in the dual citizenship fiasco, referring herself to the High Court because of her Scottish descent.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Senator Nash – who is deputy Nationals leader to Barnaby Joyce – revealed in the Senate on Thursday night that she believes she is a dual UK citizen.
Like Mr Joyce, she vows to not stand down from her frontbench position while the court considers her case.
Senator Nash has a Scottish father, giving her automatic citizenship by descent.
It concludes a poor week for the Nationals, which began with party leader Barnaby Joyce revealing he was a potential victim of the citizenship saga after extensive investigations revealed he inherited dual citizenship through his father, who was born in New Zealand.
Former Liberal senator Bill Heffernan believes the issue may lie with a lack of screening on National Party candidates.
During his tenure in politics, Mr Heffernan introduced an intrusive mandatory screening scheme to find out everything about would-be members.
He said all political parties may need to consider it.
“In wake of recent revelations of difficulties with citizenship, it reminds me that many years ago I introduced a candidate review process to the party where we don't disclose who the nominations are for any particular role in Parliament until it is complete,” he said.
“It includes very private questions about the behaviour of the people including the publications they have written.
“The Libs still do, I don’t know about the Nats – it doesn’t seem like they do.”
Apart from the three Nationals, two now former Greens Senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam have quit upon discovery they were dual citizens while One National senator Malcolm Roberts is also off to the High Court on the basis he was a dual British citizen when elected.
Senator Nash told the chamber just before it rose that she will not be quitting any of her ministerial responsibilities.
“On the basis of the Solicitor-General’s advice, the PM has indicated to me that he sees no reason for me to stand aside from my portfolio responsibilities,” she said.
She was elected in 2004 and has served in a variety of ministerial roles, including Rural Health and Regional Development.