Senior Tasmanian Liberals have denied they knew of former senator Stephen Parry’s citizenship concerns.
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Days after the High Court handed down its verdict for the so-called citizenship seven, Mr Parry called his own eligibility into question.
On October 31 he discovered he held British citizenship, and resigned days later.
After it was revealed Mr Parry told Communications Minister Mitch Fifield about his concerns, Labor has questioned if any Tasmanian Liberals knew of Mr Parry’s British past.
Senator Jonathon Duniam said he had no prior knowledge of Mr Parry’s citizenship concerns.
“The first I knew of the matter was seeing it breaking in the news,” he said.
Liberal senators Eric Abetz and David Bushby also denied they had prior knowledge of Mr Parry’s citizenship.
Labor senator Anne Urquhart defended Braddon MHR Justine Keay, who has a citizenship cloud hanging over her head.
“While former Senator Parry hid his dual citizenship from the Tasmanian people, Tasmanian Labor MPs and Senators have been upfront and honest about their citizenship and, where relevant, their steps to renounce dual citizenships,” he said.
“It is hard to believe that former Senator Parry would tell a Victorian Senator [Fifield] about his concerns and keep this from his Tasmanian colleagues.
“Instead of attacking their political opponents, Liberal senators should focus on providing stable government.”