No sooner had Malcolm Turnbull decried the Greens' "incredible sloppiness" after senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters fell victim to provisions of section 44 of the constitution, which prohibit dual citizens in Parliament, than Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan quit cabinet.

Turns out Canavan is a dual citizen, too… but he blames his mum. Yes, according to the Minister, Mama Canavan signed him up for Italian citizenship without his knowledge. A stance that has been met with some scepticism by other members of parliament.

"I am a citizen of Italy. I was not born in Italy, I have never been to Italy, and to my knowledge have never set foot in an Italian consulate or embassy," Canavan said.

"In 2006 my mother lodged documents with the Italian consulate in Brisbane to become an Italian citizen. In doing so it would appear she made an application for me to become an Italian citizen as well. I was 25 years old at the time. My mother was born in Australia but was able to obtain Italian citizenship through her parents, who were both born in Italy."