Four Labor MPs caught up in dual citizenship saga as register is made public

There could be more than a dozen federal politicians facing the High Court next year following the release of citizenship disclosure documents.

Four more Labor MPs grilled in dual citizenship saga

The ALP's (from left) Josh Wilson, Justine Keay, David Feeney and Susan Lamb now face High Court referrals. Source: AAP

As the contents of 226 sets of citizenship documents tabled in parliament are digested, both the major parties have politicians facing the High Court in the new year. 

The hit list on the Turnbull government benches includes Jason Falinski, Ross Vasta, Nola Marino, Julia Banks, Alex Hawke, Michael McCormack and potentially cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg and Senator Arthur Sinodinos.

While Labor's list includes David Feeney, Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Josh Wilson as well as Katy Gallagher in the Senate.

Nick Xenophon Team MP Rebekha Sharkie's eligibility is also in doubt.

Mr Feeney will ask to be referred to the High Court if documents confirming UK authorities received his citizenship renunciation does not show up in the next few days. 

He is among four Labor MPs to be caught up in the dual citizenship saga after parliament's citizenship register was made public on Tuesday.

Attorney-General George Brandis has accused some Labor MPs of hiding in plain sight amid questions over their eligibility to sit in parliament.

"Now we know that there are four of their MPs and one of their senators who basically have been trying to hide in plain sight over the last couple of months while this saga has been brewing," Senator Brandis told Nine Network on Wednesday.

The citizenship and family history details of 150 lower house MPs were tabled in parliament, a day after the details of their 76 Senate colleagues were released.

Mr Feeney said he lodged renunciation papers in 2007 but had been unable to find any records of them.

"On this basis, if the relevant documents have not been located by the time this issue has been dealt with in the House of Representatives, I will be asking the manager of opposition business to refer this matter to the High Court," he told parliament.

In his declaration, Mr Feeney said he signed documents prepared for him in October 2007 on the steps he needed to renounce any inherited British citizenship.

"As far as I am aware those documents were sent to the relevant British and Irish authorities as required at the time," he wrote.

"In November 2017, I sought confirmation from the Irish ambassador about my renunciation of any Irish citizenship I may have had in 2007. Further inquiries are being made of the Irish embassy to confirm receipt of my renunciation of any entitlement of Irish citizenship."

Three other Labor MPs did not receive confirmation their British citizenship was renounced until after the close of candidate nominations for the 2016 Federal Election.

Through a new citizenship disclosure regime enforced by the federal government, it has been revealed Labor's Justine Keay completed the form renouncing her citizenship in May last year.

But the documents were not received by the UK Home Office until June 16 last year and not registered until July 11. The close of nominations for candidates was June 9.


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By SBS/AAP
Presented by Yang J. Joo
Source: AAP, SBS

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