The issue of dual citizenship is proving to be a massive problem for Aussie politicians. Looks like it's gonna derail a few more than just Ludlam and Waters.
Pretty ironic that this is happening given that our political establishment is overwhelmingly PC when it comes to other ways of defining one's identity. They now believe that gender is not a result of biological sex, for example. They reckon it's all down to personal conviction. So why doesn't this also apply to citizenship?
Hell, why not just say "I never felt like a Kiwi, so therefore I never was -- despite what those records show"?
Looks like Malcolm Roberts (of all people!) is the one who has come closest to this line of argument if comments from his spokesman are any guide. But as far as I know none of the other pollies who've come a cropper due to their dual citizenship seem to have seriously used this excuse. This is surprising, particularly when it comes to the Greens. Pretty much their whole policy platform is driven by their narcissistic emotions, after all.
But then those policies are never really meant to apply to them -- or they're insulated from their negative effects if they do. For example, countless Aussies are struggling with rising power bills because of the "catastrophic global warming" scam. Yet the myth's most zealous promoters -- Greens pollies -- are so well off they're not affected. And take Larissa Waters's view on gender. She endorsed the sinister "No Gender December" campaign. Yet she dresses her own daughter in pink.
So, the fact that they accept the validity of the traditional, legal way of defining citizenship without challenge is significant IMO. If Waters or Ludlam had tried the "feels" defence it would still have been silly as, of course. But at least it would have been consistent -- and therefore kinda principled.
Anachronistic or not, section 44 lays the requirements down in pretty straightforward language. Roberts, I've seen reported elsewhere, knew of the issue and attempted to get clarification from London several times. Which makes him slightly less culpable than the Greens - but only slightly.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Ludlam quite vocal in questioning Tony Abbott's citizenship a while back? I seem to recall that he was.