A respectable 12-year career has been marred by one of the biggest sagas to hit the Australian Government in the modern era.
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Tasmanian Liberal senator Stephen Parry officially handed in his keys on Thursday, after he publicly revealed on Wednesday that he holds British citizenship through his father’s lineage.
His admission came less than a week after the High Court handed down its ruling on Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash, Larissa Waters, Scott Ludlam, and Malcolm Roberts from parliament, all of whom found themselves holding dual citizenships through various paternal-maternal or birthplace associations.
After the initial dual citizenship bombshell was dropped on then Greens senator Waters in July, the feds have been on high alert, urged publicly and privately to double and triple-check their citizen details.
The question on the lips on many Tasmanians, as the news of Mr Parry emerged on Tuesday, was ‘why now?’
How long had he known of his fate? Was he waiting until after the High Court’s ruling to make a move? How much longer did he think he could keep it to himself?
Journalists the country over are sniffing and double-sniffing their respective pollies, eager to catch out the next doomed dual-holder.
While Mr Parry avoided an out-of-his-control ousting, due to his position as President of the Senate, his reveal and subsequent resignation made national headlines.
When Mr Parry is spoken of in the future, even after the dust has cleared, he will be known first and foremost as a victim (or is that a benefactor?) of the citizenship saga.
His career highlights, both political and pre-political, will be swept over in one breath: a former policeman turned funeral director from North-West Tasmania, who, after donning the senator’s hat, took a natural position in leadership roles.
It is a shame, because while one can question Mr Parry’s behaviour and choices since July this year, one cannot deny that he has represented the state at a federal level, with a character that Tasmanians could be proud of.
His citizenship, however known or not known it was throughout his career, does not diminish his achievements.
Once again, the darkest moment of a politician’s career is the one that they’ll be remembered for.