Sydney, Oct 10 (AFP) Seven politicians, including anIndia-born, embroiled in a dual citizenship crisis facedAustralia's highest court today in the first of three days ofhearings that could upend the government's one-seatparliamentary majority.
The lawmakers, from different parties, had their casesreferred to the High Court after falling afoul of a previouslyobscure constitutional rule that bars dual citizens fromsitting in parliament.
The most critical case involves Deputy Prime MinisterBarnaby Joyce, whose potential ouster from parliament couldjeopardise Malcolm Turnbull's coalition government.
Joyce, the leader of the rural-based National Party, isAustralian-born but found out in August that he hadautomatically acquired New Zealand citizenship through hisfather.
His deputy and upper house Senator Fiona Nash, fellowNationals Senator Matt Canavan and four other senators fromminor parties are also caught up in the controversy.
Solicitor-General Stephen Donoghue is arguing that thecases involving foreign-born politicians -- One Nation'sMalcolm Roberts (India-born) and the Greens' Scott Ludlam (NewZealand) -- should be treated differently from those whoinherited foreign nationality by descent.
Donoghue, who is leading the government's case, told thefull bench in Canberra that Roberts and Ludlam fell into thecategory of those who had knowledge of their status as dualcitizens but "shut their eyes to it", Fairfax Media reported.
The other five, all born in Australia except GreensSenator Larissa Waters who left Canada as a baby, had notbreached the constitution as they were unaware of theiroverseas citizenship, he added.
Joyce has since formally renounced his New Zealandcitizenship.
If the court disqualifies him from parliament, he wouldhave to recontest his seat in a by-election, extending thepolitical uncertainty for the government.
The dual citizenship rule was originally inserted intothe 1901 constitution to ensure parliamentarians were loyalsolely to Australia.
However, critics say it is out of step with the country'smodern reality, where 50 per cent of the population are eitherforeign-born or the children of immigrants. (AFP)SMJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.