Xenophon makes low-key farewell to Senate

Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon may have made his last speech to the Senate, ahead of a High Court ruling and tilt at South Australian politics.

Senator Nick Xenophon

Nick Xenophon, who is under a citizenship cloud, may have given his last speech to the Senate. (AAP)

A crossbench senator who is fond of the odd political stunt and famously wore pyjamas in the upper house has given a low key potential farewell speech to the Senate.

Senator Xenophon is one of seven federal MPs whose citizenship status is before the High Court - his mother was born in Greece and his Cyprus-born father held a British passport.

He's also planning to leave the Senate to make a return to South Australian state politics.

"I do not know when I'll be making my last speech to the Senate, I hope this won't be it because I have a lot to say about many issues affecting my home state of South Australia," Senator Xenophon said during an adjournment debate speech on Wednesday night.

"I will be leaving this place one way or other, sooner rather than later," Senator Xenophon said, before discussing what he sees as the unfinished business of political donation reform.

There's a chance his SA-Best party could win the balance of power in next year's state election.

Attorney General George Brandis joked it was out of character for Senator Xenophon to deliver his potential farewell speech in a non-flamboyant way.

"While we do not wish you success in the South Australian election... nevertheless on behalf of the government I did want to wish you well in a personal sense," Senator Brandis said, adding he had dealt with the government in a considerate and constructive manner.

Labor's senate leader Penny Wong said the Senate wouldn't be the same without him.

"I do wish you well," she said.

It's unclear when the High Court will hand down its ruling.

Eligibility for parliament is also in doubt for the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash and Matt Canavan, former Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters and One Nation's Malcolm Roberts.


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Source: AAP



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