COMMENT

THE creeping danger stalking the dual citizenship debate is reinforcement of the view that members of Parliament are particularly stupid.

It’s a broad view and of course isn’t accurate. But the evidence to support the “particularly stupid” slur is growing, and the MPs and senators themselves are piling it on.

They appear unable to properly fill out basic official forms, the type of incompetence which earns some on welfare a string of nasty communications from Centrelink and financial penalties.

Over the past 12 months we’ve seen members of Parliament fail to list assets worth as much as $1 million despite such declarations being compulsory.

They have been found to have confused private travel with official business, sending the airfare bill for both to the taxpayer.

And now we find some among those sitting in Parliament are unsure what nationality, or nationalities, they hold. Observe the latest example, Senator Malcolm Roberts, now the second One Nation senator and fourth politician in a fortnight to be caught up in the dual citizenship crisis:

The compliance demands of contemporary life are huge, from registering your car to paying your taxes.

But they apply to all of us. There should be no exemption for those in Parliament.

What might particularly rile a voter, certainly those already sharing cynicism about the political structures, is that those who nominate for a federal election are baby-fed their obligations by an extremely helpful Australian Electoral Commission.

They are even given a handbook which makes clear what they should do.

Sorting out your nationality is one area covered. The AEC even provides a 15-point checklist, and separately explains each box to be ticked or crossed on the actual nomination form.

The AEC starkly states, in regard to the qualifications: “Candidates who have any doubts about their eligibility by virtue of section 44 of the Constitution are advised to obtain their own legal advice.

This might be hard to work out: Larissa Waters should have asked a QC not her mother; Matt Canavan should have asked his mother, not a QC.

The AEC can’t do much more.

Last election 994 people nominated as candidates for the July 2 House of Representatives election, and 631 for the Senate. The commission could not possibly run its own checks on their qualifications.

Further, the timing of elections is against this. Nominations close on a Thursday and the printing of ballots has to start the following Saturday to be available on polling day.

It is all up to the candidates and those who can’t match the demand for detail surely cast doubt on their ability to be parliamentary representatives.

The fact the High Court has been called into decide on Senator Canavan’s situation doesn’t prove this is a complex issue. Individual circumstances might be complicated but not the primary matter. And the High Court would not be needed had nationality been diligently examined before nomination.

There is no suggestion Senator Roberts, Scott Ludlam, Ms Waters, Senator Canavan, or Heather Hill and Bob Wood before them, deliberately tried to fraudulently enter Parliament. But a lot of people penalised by Centrelink didn’t intend to rort the welfare system, either.