A Wagga politician has rejected suggestions he could be a dual citizen, despite a recent ruling from the British Home Office.
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Wes Fang, appointed to the Legislative Council earlier this year, could be a British citizen because his father was born in Singapore before independence from the UK. It follows the shock resignation of Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore on Wednesday, after receiving advice that she was, in fact, a British citizen.
“They said my mother was born in the former colony of Singapore before independence … this gave her citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies under section 4 of the British Nationality Act 1948,” Ms Kakoschke-Moore said.
“When the British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on January 1, 1983, (the effect was) my mother became a British citizen under section 11.1.
“She was therefore able to pass her citizenship on to any children born outside of the UK, I am therefore a British citizen.”
Mr Fang could find himself in the same position as Ms Kakoschke-Moore, but while federal MPs are not permitted to be citizens of a foreign nation under section 44 of the constitution, procedural rules in the NSW Parliament mean dual citizens are eligible to hold a seat.
The Australian-born Mr Fang said his father had renounced his Singaporean citizenship when he came to Australia. While Mr Fang had sought advice from the Singapore High Commission about whether he was a dual Singaporean citizen, he said he had not contacted the British High Commission.
“Because I was on the Senate ticket in 2016 and given the (recent) publicity surrounding dual citizenship, I rang the Singapore High Commission and they indicated I would not be a dual citizen given the circumstances,” Mr Fang said.
“I haven’t talked to the home office but my understanding is … (I am) ineligible for British citizenship.”
Mr Fang said he had spoken to the clerks of parliament about whether dual citizenship would be an issue.
“My position as a state MP means that dual citizenship does not exclude me from the role,” Mr Fang said.
“As far as I’m aware I’m not a dual citizen.”
In a statement, the British High Commission in Canberra said it would not comment on individual cases. However, anyone with questions about their citizenship status can visit the British High Commision’s website.