WHAT NEXT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE'S VACANT SEATS
COALITION
* JIM MOLAN - Incoming Liberal senator and retired major-general is set to be sworn-in on the first sitting day of the year, February 5. 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.
* 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. Colbeck has to wait until Jacqui Lambie's potential replacement Steve Martin has his eligibility tested by the High Court in February before his path back to Canberra is confirmed.
* GEORGE BRANDIS - Will return to parliament to give his valedictory speech on February 7 before resigning to replace Alexander Downer as Australia's High Commissioner to the UK. The preselection process to replace Brandis is under way in Queensland, with a large field expected to contest the LNP vacancy.
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 - Looks certain to fill the casual vacancy to be created by Sam Dastyari's impending resignation over his links to Chinese political donors. The former NSW premier is likely to get the nod from the ALP's administrative committee on February 2, before being endorsed by a joint sitting of the NSW state parliament.
CROSSBENCH
* SKYE KAKOSCHKE-MOORE - The former Nick Xenophon Team senator has launched a bid to replace herself after quitting 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. A directions hearing has been set down for Wednesday.
* 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. The government is in Martin's corner, arguing local councillors are entitled to sit in parliament. The case will be heard on February 6.
THE NUMBERS NOW:
* Coalition - 27
* Labor - 26
* Greens - 9
* Independents and parties with one senator - 5
* Pauline Hanson's One Nation - 3
* Nick Xenophon Team - 2
* Vacancies - 4
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