Greens senator quits parliament over citizenship bungle
Greens senator Scott Ludlam is leaving federal parliament after finding out he was improperly elected more than a decade ago.
Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam has resigned. Photo: Mick Tsikas / AAP
The party’s co-deputy leader said it was recently brought to his attention that he holds dual citizenship of Australia and New Zealand.
Under section 44 of the constitution, that makes him ineligible to hold elected office.
Our thoughts are with @SenatorLudlam, his amazing team, @SenatorSiewert and the @TheGreensWA. The Greens family are with you today.
— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) July 14, 2017
Scott & I started our political journey in the Senate together. A great Senator & wonderful activist. Damn it @SenatorLudlam we'll miss you
— ?? Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) July 14, 2017
Ludlam labelled it a “ridiculous oversight”.
“I apologise unreservedly for this mistake,” he said in a statement.
“This was my error, something I should have checked when I first nominated for preselection in 2006.”
hey everyone. i'm sorry about this, but it's a thing. i'll really miss it, but there are other ways to make trouble. love and thanks. pic.twitter.com/1QsEgRIEnW
— Scott Ludlam (@Scottludlam) July 14, 2017
Instead of going through protracted legal proceedings, he is resigning as a senator for Western Australia and co-deputy leader of the Australian Greens.
Scott Ludlam's resignation is a great loss for the Senate and WA. Will miss Waistcoat Wednesdays #auspol
— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) July 14, 2017
The Ludlam dual citizenship resignation should re-ignite the Tony Abbott dual citizenship debate. When did he renounce Britain?
— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) July 14, 2017
Ludlam was born in Palmerston North in New Zealand and left the country with his family when he was three.
He settled in Australia not long before his ninth birthday, before being naturalised when he was in his mid-teens – which he says he “assumed was the end of my New Zealand citizenship”.
The Senate is expected to refer the matter to the Court of Disputed Returns, which the Greens think will call for a countback of votes from the 2016 election.
University student Jordan Steele-John, 21, has been touted the frontrunner to take the vacant seat.
Steele-John, who has cerebral palsy, had to give up his British citizenship to run for parliament back in 2013.
Ludlam is the fourth senator to leave the upper house this parliamentary term.
Bob Day and Rod Culleton were both ruled ineligible for constitutional reasons, while Liberal senator Chris Back resigned.
-AAP
