MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE
COALITION
* JIM MOLAN - The retired major-general was sworn-in on Monday. He was second in line to take the seat of former Nationals deputy leader Fiona Nash who was disqualified over her UK citizenship. Molan's fellow Liberal, Hollie Hughes, was also struck out by the High Court over her government job.
* LUCY GICHUHI - Confirmed her move to the Liberals on Monday. The Kenyan-born South Australian senator was catapulted into federal parliament to replace disqualified Family First senator Bob Day, but left the party to sit as an independent when Family First merged with Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives.
* GEORGE BRANDIS - Will give his valedictory speech on Wednesday as he prepares to replace Alexander Downer as Australia's High Commissioner to the UK. LNP preselection nominations have closed to fill the former attorney-general's Queensland seat.
* RICHARD COLBECK - The former tourism minister is expected to re-enter federal parliament, replacing Stephen Parry after the ex-Senate president resigned over dual citizenship. Before his path back to Canberra is confirmed, Colbeck must wait until Jacqui Lambie's potential replacement, Steve Martin, has his eligibility tested by the High Court.
LABOR
* KATY GALLAGHER - The ACT senator could be forced to wait until March to find out whether the High Court will rule her to be ineligible. She argues she took all possible steps to renounce her British citizenship before the 2016 election. If Gallagher gets the boot, union boss David Smith shapes as her replacement.
* KRISTINA KENEALLY - Has been chosen to fill the vacancy to be created by Sam Dastyari's resignation over his links to Chinese political donors. The former NSW premier will have to be endorsed by a joint sitting of state parliament before she can be sworn-in to the Senate, with both houses not scheduled to sit until next Monday.
CROSSBENCH
* FRASER ANNING - Elected as a replacement for former One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, Anning sensationally split with the party on his first day in parliament last year. He confirmed on Monday he will sit as an independent.
* STEVE MARTIN - Due to replace colourful former Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, Martin faces questions over his eligibility because he is mayor of Devonport. That could be considered an "office of profit under the Crown", ruling him out of contention. The government is in Martin's corner, arguing local councillors are entitled to sit in parliament. His case will be heard in the High Court on Tuesday.
* SKYE KAKOSCHKE-MOORE - The former Nick Xenophon Team senator is seeking to replace herself. Kakoschke-Moore quit in November over her British citizenship. Her legal team will argue the next candidate on the NXT's 2016 Senate election ticket, Tim Storer, is ineligible because he has quit the party. The case is due to be heard in the High Court on February 13.
THE NUMBERS NOW
* Coalition - 30
* Labor - 25
* Greens - 9
* Independents and parties with one senator - 4
* Pauline Hanson's One Nation - 3
* Nick Xenophon Team - 2
* Vacancies - 3
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