Ms Gallagher has resigned today following a ruling by the High Court that she is ineligible to sit as a senator in the Australian Parliament due to her remaining a British citizen after being nominated as a candidate for office.
She has served as shadow minister for small business and financial services on the opposition front bench since July 2016 and was previously chief minister of the ACT before entering federal politics.
In a statement, Ms Gallagher expressed disappointment at the outcome but said she respects the court’s decision.
“I have spent the last 17 years of my life representing the people of the Australian Capital Territory, firstly in the ACT Legislative Assembly and more recently in the Senate,” she said.
“I have always acted on the best available legal advice, which at all times indicated that I satisfied the eligibility requirements under the Constitution. However, today the High Court has made its decision, and I respect the outcome.
“To the people of the ACT I’m very sorry that this disruption has occurred to one of your federal representatives.”
Labor MPs Susan Lamb, Josh Wilson and Justine Keay and Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) MP Rebekha Sharkie have also resigned today following dual citizenship findings.
We need some dual citizenship debates in regards to our professional associations. In the same way we rightly question the allegiances of our politicians, just why are Financial Planners so content to see there industry associations having conflicts? They are obviously complicit in the behavior of their members such as AMP and content for themselves to be compared to Cowboys for the next 20 years. Just who are the FPA representing… AMP ? AMP advisers? AMP Financial Planning, Australians…time for a change.
Should straight up need to pay back every cent of salary to the taxpayer. They have all known they were dual citizens and have hoped it didnt come to this.
We all have to remember that the people who provided her with legal advice did not have to act in her best interests. Its only financial advisers who have to comply with this rule. Why dont we extend the best interests duty to politicians and lawyers
Its all right the labor party and the ISN are well represented by O’dwyer – she masquerades as a fabian socialist quite well I would have thought.
good riddance to bad rubbish. the whole parliament should resign and they should all be locked up. Especially that cancer O’dwyer
Isn’t it time that the constitution was amended? Most Australian citizens have a foreign heritage from parents, grandparents or great grandparents.If Australia has seen fit to grant these people citizenship and the rules of that grant do not require that person to renounce their foreign citizenship when acquiring Australian citizenship, then the fact that Australia allows dual citizenship should not be an issue when becoming a Federal politician. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State and has the power (in theory) to dissolve parliament yet she is not an Australian citizen! How can that be?
No it’s not time for change Greg. You can’t have an allegiance to multiple countries…full stop. I could just see that discussion now…Do we declare War on Japan or not. What do you think Senator Bob Tanaka . also, Do we sign a trade agreement with Toyota or not SenatorTanaka. mmmmm I think we do nothing said Bob. It’s the very same reason why the FPA has a conflict of interest when they get payments from product manufacturers, and also they have FPEC and their putting in submissions to FASEA.
Can she tell us from whom she got the legal advice so I can make sure we don’t use them
Are there any politicians left that are sole citizens !!
and you dont need to meet any education standards to be an MP, farcical!
Do they have to repay their parliamentary salaries and allowances to which they were not entitled? If this was an Age Pensioner who had received the some pension incorrectly they would be hounded by Centrelink to repay. One set of rules for politicians and another set for everyone else. Disgraceful.
What i would like to know is where is our Federal Police in all of this. Background checks are obviously not required to be a politician. I just opened a broking account and I feel almost violated with the security checks required.
“best available legal advice”!…..did that legal adviser have to issue a Statement of Advice and was he/she supposed to act in your best interest? Sounds like it was scam advice to me.
Was the legal advice from Lionel Hutz?
Will they name and shame the legal eagles who gave this advice and cost the tax payer $M’s. let’s keep the pressure on them like they do us
Aren’t all the politicians caught up in the Dual citizenship scandal a bunch of comedians! So they sign false and misleading declarations and misrepresent themselves, ie flat out lie to the AEC, the Parliament and the Australian people. The worst that happens to them is they are forced to resign (& possibly recontest their seats in a by-election, maybe win and life goes on). What about the by-election costs…shouldn’t they foot the bill? Ha! What a joke! Fancy if we (or our clients) made misrepresentations akin to these to statutory authorities. The media would go into overdrive, baying for blood and criminal charges, plus pay for all the associated costs. The pollies would all put their 2c worth (and the boot) in, coupled with their ridiculously serious looking demeanour and lots of tutt-tutting. Hang on! Didn’t I see some of that as a result of the recent Royal Commission hearings?
The politician’s hypocrisy and double standards are breath taking! It’s about time we had an RC into the politicians…Rowena, what are you doing after the current RC concludes?
and don’t forget the head nod of those stupid politicians in the background when there is an announcement of any kind.
There should be an extremely heavy penalty for applying to be in the Parliament of Australia when you are ineligible, full stop. No ifs and buts
Really, best legal advice? Should have done the same as others – resign when it became clear that there was no evidence to back the case. I think rescinding citizenship would be a tad memorable…unless of course, one doesn’t care to whose flag you pledge allegiance. As for Bill… disgraceful leadership on this one. Dishonest at worst, whimsical at best. Maybe resign from the leadership, too, Bill Shorten?
We all know what BS stands for
Bill Shorten is BS. It is only a matter of time before criminal charges are investigated.
Lets have a Royal Commission into politicians? They would be very worried…….
Hey Mr Bill Shorten – so glad to see that Labor’s MP onboard processes are as water tight as you told us all. Silly Billy Shorten has some egg on his face now :oops::cry::confused:
Ms Gallagher I would suggest it was not the best legal advice available, it was in fact wrong.