Politics

No, The Fact That Tony Abbott Was Born In The UK Doesn’t Mean He’s Ineligible To Hold Office

Sorry guys.

by Tom Clift  15 July 2017

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On Friday, Greens senator Scott Ludlam announced his immediate resignation, after it emerged that he has been a secret New Zealander this entire time.

Ludlam has not lived in New Zealand since he was three years old, and was apparently only made aware that he held dual citizenship this week. Nevertheless, the constitution clearly states that anyone who is “a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power” is ineligible to hold public office in Australia.

Of course, as a number of people on social media have pointed out, Ludlam is not the only Australian politician who was born in another country. As a matter of fact, one of the nation’s most beloved backbenchers is originally from London.

I think you know the one I mean.

Shortly after Ludlam announced his resignation, independent senator/notorious shit-stirrer Derryn Hinch sent out a tweet asking whether Tony Abbott had ever denounced his British citizenship.

The idea that Abbott is an undercover pom has long been a favourite of Australian political conspiracy buffs. But now the ex-PM has seemingly shot down the theory once and for all, tweeting what appears to be an official document confirming that he has not been a British citizen since 1993, the year before he entered parliament.

Then again, not everyone was sold on the strength of the evidence.

While others made it clear that you can fake just about anything with Photoshop these days.

Honestly though, it’s mostly just disappointing to see Tony forgetting where he came from.

So much for being a staunch monarchist.