Senator Jacqui Lambie has become the latest victim of the dual citizenship crisis which continues to engulf Australia’s parliament.
The independent from Tasmania announced on Tuesday she would be immediately stepping down, having discovered she is entitled to British citizenship through her Scottish-born father.
“I love my father to death and hope to not blame him for his. He’s done nothing for which to apologise,” Ms Lambie told parliament in formally announcing her resignation.
“It’s not because of him that I’m leaving this place, it’s because of him that I’m here in the first place.”
On thanking her staff, she was brought to tears.
“You have proven yourself to be loyal. You’re wonderful, hard working, and I would never have got this far without you,” she said.
Ms Lambie’s father was brought to Australia at just 1-year of age. His father, Ms Lambie’s grandfather, failed to renounce their UK citizenship upon arrival. Therefore, Ms Lambie is a British citizen by descent.
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Ms Lambie told the Senate while her immediate future was uncertain, she still had work to do in parliament and plans on returning.
“I do hope to come back and when I am, I hope that my dad is here cheering me on,” she said.