Labor and the coalition have reached agreement on new rules to ensure federal election candidates don't hold dual citizenship.
Candidates for five upcoming by-elections - four of which were triggered by the citizenship debacle - will be the first to be covered by the rules.
Speaker Tony Smith has said he won't be setting the date of the by-elections until the regulations are in place.
The regulations will change the candidate nomination form to include a checklist for candidates to help them comply with section 44 of the constitution.
This section not only bans dual citizens, but bankrupts, public servants, people with a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in an agreement with the public service and those convicted of crimes with a jail term of a year or more.
The candidate details will be published by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Once the regulations are approved by the Governor-General, they will be tabled in parliament and start operating the following day.
It is understood the government wants to bring in the regulations as swiftly as possible.
The by-elections will be held in the seats of Perth, Fremantle, Braddon, Longman and Mayo.
Share
