The list of Australian MPs caught up in the citizenship saga keeps on getting longer.
One of the latest involved, Labor MP Susan Lamb, is in a slightly different situation to most.
She spoke in Parliament today about the real obstacle in obtaining her parents’ marriage certificate.
“It’s a complex and traumatic story, a story that I don’t usually share,” she began.
“One day when I was around six years old my mum dropped me off at school. She never came back to pick me up.”
She told the House she didn’t remember every detail of what happened afterwards, except there were lots of tears and confusion.
“I remember my day trying to explain,” she said.
“So when people ask me why I couldn’t just call my mother, this is why, and I hope this story gives you the answer.”
The MP for Londman, Queensland, has said she is estranged from her mum, Hazel Cant and has already taken the “reasonable steps” needed to renounce her British citizenship.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lamb is a British citizen through her father. She says she started the process of renouncing her citizenship two weeks before the 206 election closed.
Her application was rejected by the UK Home Office due to absence of her parent’s marriage certificate, which she claims she cannot obtain because under Queensland law if a parent is alive they must give their permission for it to be released.
Despite the emotional circumstances, it remains up to the High Court to decide the outcome.
Top Comments
Who to believe? It now turns out that she was lying and was in contact with her mother 3 years ago. And lived with her when her mother was organising her wedding. Her stepmother came out to dispute it. Very telling it's the stepmother coming out to defend the mother - I know which one I believe and it isn't the politician. If her stepmum is willing to go public about this, even siding with the natural mother, then this to me points to a pattern of manipulative behaviour on Susan Lambs part. I felt something was really 'off' about Lamb's Academy Award performance, I just.....had that feeling. That it was for show, to get the govt off her back. She was silly to think her mother or stepmum wouldn't comment. Obviously she has made some enemies in her family. Turnbull could and should use this, and should refer her to the High Court.
Why did she wait until 2 weeks before? She knew she was a dual citizen when she decided to run, wouldn't you start renunciation then? She couldn't get the marriage certificate because she didn't want to speak to her mother, surely the ALP party machine could have helped. Didn't try very hard.