Just when you may have thought the dual citizenship ‘saga’, as it is so aptly referred to, was over, Alex Hawke is the latest parliamentarian to be called into question.
The Liberal MP has been accused of potentially holding Greek citizenship, given his mother was born in Greece and immigrated to Australia in the 1950s.
However the Australian-born assistant immigration minister has denied he is a dual citizen, and maintains he only holds Australian citizenship.
“I am an Australian citizen only and have never held or acquired or sought Greek or any other citizenship,” Mr Hawke told News Corp Australia.
Meanwhile the Greek Embassy in Canberra has reportedly said that when born to a parent of Greek nationality that the child acquires Greek citizenship at birth, whether activated or not.
Currently both the Liberal and Labor parties are carrying out internal audits of all MPs to ensure they do not hold dual citizenship. While the Greens will be setting up a committee for when the Senate next sits, to force senators to prove their citizenship status.