A COLLEAGUE of one of the government’s rising stars says it’s “sloppy” Matt Canavan didn’t know he was a dual-citizen when he ran for Federal Parliament. It comes as the unsigned citizenship papers have reportedly been found.

Senator Canavan sensationally stood down from Malcolm Turnbull’s Cabinet last night after learning he could be ineligible for Parliament because his mother tried to make him an Italian citizen 11 years ago.

Under Section 44 of the Constitution, a citizen of two or more countries is ineligible for Parliament.

Senator Canavan’s news came hot on the heels of the resignation of two Greens senators who had dual citizenship.

Malcolm Turnbull last week hit out at the Greens’ bungles, saying they showed incredible sloppiness.

media_camera Senator Matt Canavan (right) announced he was standing aside at a media conference with Attorney-General George Brandis. Picture: Tim Marsden/AAP

Senator Canavan’s Queensland colleague Ken O’Dowd admits the same can be said of the stood-aside resources minister.

“The Prime Minister said it, and whether he said it to the Greens or said it to anyone else, it’s ... sloppy,” he told ABC radio today.

“I don’t think there’s much of an excuse anyone can offer.”

It also emerged today that Senator Canavan discussed Italian citizenship with his mother almost a decade ago, but never signed any forms.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce made the statement at a press conference this morning, where he confirmed he would take over Senator Canavan’s ministerial duties until the question of his citizenship was resolved.

Should dual-citizen Matt Canavan be allowed to stay in his role as a Federal Politician? Should dual-citizen Matt Canavan be allowed to stay in his role as a Federal Politician?

Senator Canavan stood aside from Cabinet after it was revealed his mother had signed him up for Italian citizenship more than a decade ago, making him a dual citizen and ineligible for Federal Parliament.

The validity of the citizenship will be tested in the High Court as Senator Canavan has said it was done without his consent or knowledge.

Mr Joyce said this morning that Senator Canavan had spoken to his mother about the subject in 2005.

“Senator Canavan has stated to me that he did not complete any forms so it was a discussion the family had and he thought that’s where it’s rested,” he said.

“I think they’ve found the forms and they’re unsigned.

“From what has been conveyed to me, he had no interest in becoming an Italian citizen.”

Greens leader Richard di Natale has said Senator Canavan should follow Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam, also caught up in dual citizenship matters, and resign from the Senate.

Asked if he would continue to vote, Mr Joyce said Senator Canavan was not resigning from the Senate.

media_camera Senator Matt Canavan has stood aside but not resigned. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

“We don’t even know at this stage whether there was a valid registration in Italy,” he said.

“So to say someone should resign from the Senate - we know it was registered but we’re getting an opinion as to whether it’s valid.”

As the Government scrambled for legal advice amid fears they could lose one of their best performers and a future deputy prime minister, the shell-shocked Queensland Senator yesterday told The Courier-Mail he needed to put matters in perspective, “because I have a beautiful wife and five kids”.

Senator Canavan, a Catholic and a devoted son, was told by his mother, Maria, last week that she had lodged documents with the Italian consulate in Brisbane for herself and all three of her children to become Italian resident in 2006 without his knowledge.

He was 25 years old at the time and never signed any documents.

The documents were registered in a small village in Lozzo di Cadore, 120km north of Venice, a former home to his deceased grandparents.

Last night, Senator Canavan said he would step down from his Resources and Northern Australia portfolios, but would remain in the Senate until there was clear legal advice about whether he was validly elected in 2013. The Senate next Tuesday will move to refer the matter for determination by the High Court.

Highly placed sources said Senator Canavan has a good case because he never signed a document, was not aware he was potentially an Italian citizen and could not take reasonable steps to renounce the Italian citizenship if he did not know.

“While I knew that my mother had become an Italian citizen, I had no knowledge that I myself had become an Italian citizen,’’ Senator Canavan said last night.

“Until last week, I had no ­suspicion that I could be an Italian citizen. I was not born in Italy and have never been to Italy.

“Following the reporting of ­Senator (Scott) Ludlam and Senator (Larissa) Waters (who resigned from the Senate after learning they were dual citizens), my mother raised with me the possibility that I was an Italian citizen last week.

“The Italian authorities have ­confirmed that the application for Italian citizenship was not signed by me ... I have not received any correspondence from Italian authorities about my citizenship status and they have not been able to provide any such records.

“In the short time, available I have not been able to obtain definitive legal advice as to whether my registration as an Italian citizen, without my knowledge or consent, was valid under Italian law.

“I am seeking to obtain that advice presently. On the basis of the advice the Government has obtained, it is not my intention to resign from the Senate.

“However, given the uncertainty raised by this matter, I will stand aside until the matter is finally ­resolved.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last night said Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce would look after Senator Canavan’s portfolios until his status was resolved.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the Government would refer the matter to the High Court when Parliament reconvened in a fortnight.

The Government has taken advice from the Solicitor-General and is seeking advice from experts in Italian citizenship law.

“It is the Government’s preliminary view that, because the registration was obtained without Senator Canavan’s knowledge or consent, that he is not in breach of section 44 of the constitution,” Senator Brandis said.

Senator @mattjcan & I disagree on almost everything, especially #Adani, but my heart goes out to him, family & staff with dual citizen news — Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) July 25, 2017

Full text of statement issued by Matthew Canavan

In 2006, my mother lodged documents with the Italian consulate in Brisbane to become an Italian citizen. In doing so, it would appear that she made an application for me to become an Italian citizen as well. I was 25 years old at the time.

While I knew that my mother had become an Italian citizen I had no knowledge that I myself had become an Italian citizen. Until last week I had no suspicion that I could be an Italian citizen. I was not born in Italy and have never been to Italy.

Following the reporting of Senator Ludlam and Senator Waters, my mother raised with me the possibility that I was an Italian citizen last week.

The Italian authorities have confirmed that the application for Italian citizenship was not signed by me. To my knowledge I have not received any correspondence from Italian authorities about my citizenship status, and they have not been able to provide any such records.

In the short time available I have not been able to obtain definitive legal advice as to whether my registration as an Italian citizen, without my knowledge or consent, was valid under Italian law. I am seeking to obtain that advice presently.

On the basis of the advice the Government has obtained it is not my intention to resign from the Senate.

TIMELINE

2005

Canavans have a family discussion about becoming Italian citizens. Maria Canavan, mother of Matt, was born in Australia but has Italian-born parents. Matt expresses no interest in becoming an Italian citizen.

2006

Maria registers herself and family members as “Italian residents abroad” - a form of citizenship - with the Italian consulate in Brisbane. Written form signed by Maria includes 25-year-old son Matt. Matt is not immediately told of the form being lodged, but eventually becomes aware of his mother’s Italian citizenship.

2007

JANUARY - Italy registers Matt as an Italian citizen.

MAY - Bryan Michael Canavan, Matt’s father, jailed with a colleague over a $1.6 million fraud against employer Nestle between 2001 and 2004.

2008

Matt takes up a job with KPMG in Brisbane.

2009

Matt becomes a director of the Productivity Commission.

2010

Matt joins Nationals, becomes chief of staff to then-senator Barnaby Joyce.

2013

Matt elected to the Senate for the Liberal National Party in Queensland. Takes up seat on July 1, 2014.

2015

SEPTEMBER - Matt appointed Nationals whip in the Senate.

2016

FEBRURARY - Matt appointed Minister for Northern Australia.

JULY - Matt re-elected and appointed Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.

2017

JULY 18 - Maria, having seen news stories about two Greens senators’ citizenship problems, contacts Matt to tell him he could have an issue. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce is informed.

JULY 24 - Matt receives advice from Italian embassy, which confirms it processed an application form but it was not signed by Matt.

JULY 25 - Matt resigns from cabinet as he seeks legal advice on his status. He tells reporters he is a “citizen of Italy” despite not having been born there or visited the country. He says he never received any correspondence from Italian authorities. Government’s preliminary legal advice says because the registration was obtained without Matt’s consent or knowledge he has not breached Section 44 of the constitution. Under Section 44 a person is disqualified from being elected if at the time of their election they are a citizen of “a foreign power” or otherwise have an “allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power”.

AUGUST 8 - Government to move Senate motion to refer the matter to the High Court.

(Sources: Canavan, Joyce media conferences; Parliament House website; AAP)