@***super_nova*** wrote:
We need new law fast. This is ridiculous. Just because somebody's father has a right to be citizen of a country the person should be disqualified from being in parliament!?
Surely, just because people could, if they apply, claim citizenship of other country does not mean they have conflict of interest. Especially people who came to Australia as small children and have absolutely no ties to the old country. Maybe politicians could just swear that they have no allegiance to any other country, and that they did not and will not claim citizenship of other country.
agreed, the law is an ass as they say.
unfortunately this law or rule as it is, is written into the australian constitution which much like the american constitution cant easily be changed.
it was written at a time when duel citizenship really wasnt as it is today, for starters being british sure wouldnt have been seen as foriegn!
it requires the majority of the people to give permission for a change and getting that is nigh on impossible.
so yes its kinda crazy, but to change it might end up creating a new problem when you start getting people from what most of us would class as countries we dont think much of (siria, iraq, afganastan ect ect) getting into politics and having power in govt.
as it is, as long as our pollies at least try to make sure they are not citizens of another nation that ought to suffice, IMO.
there was a time when a person could put an anouncment in the daily newspaper to tell the world of some legal thing, but in the day of the internet that might not stand up anymore.
perhaps all thats needed is for the govt by its foreign affairs dept to have a form to be filled in and lodged saying 'i joe bloggs do hearby renounce any aleagence to any foreign govt.' and have that go into a database?
