Following the senate resignations of Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, and the forced departure of cabinet minister Matt Canavan, it seems that the political careers of over 40 MPs could be affected, as could the government’s majority.

While the dual citizenship saga widens, publications looking into the heritage of more than 20 members of the House of Representatives who have spoken of their migrant heritage are fuelling concerns.

There are 23 other Australian MPs and senators who were born overseas, all of whom have stated to the press that they comply with the constitution’s citizenship requirements and nearly half of them went as far as to make public clarifications regarding having denounced their country of birth.

These include Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Trade Minister Steven Ciobo, Liberal MP Julia Banks, deputy Labor leader Tanya ­Plibersek, Labor MP Steve Georganas, and most recently Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou.

When asked by Neos Kosmos, the Labor Party MPs referred us to their party’s official response while Julia Banks declared that she is “a true blue Australian”.

Canberra is now questioning even ethnic lineage and steps taken by MPs to renounce even countries of ancestral origin as in some cases, politicians state ignorance of their rights to second citizenship which could have been claimed by their parents.

The government is currently directing responsibility to state divisions of both major parties, while also quietly encouraging its members to ensure their citizenship rights pertain exclusively to Australia.

Labor had already issued reassurances saying it worked “closely with all our candidates to ensure that their nomination is sound and compliant with the constitution,” which clearly states that no person can be capable of election to parliament who is a foreign citizen “or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power,” according to acting national secretary, Paul Erickson.

“This is a critical part of our nomination processes,” he said, adding: “We are confident that every member of the Labor caucus has been properly elected.”