CANBERRA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- More Australian MPs and senators are expected to be caught up in the federal Parliament's dual citizenship fiasco, according to a citizenship law expert on Friday.
Up to 20 MPs who were born overseas, or whose parents were born overseas, are being urged to check their dual citizenship status.
The revelation comes after Nationals Senator Matt Canavan became the third Parliamentary representative to resign because of dual citizenship, after he found out his mother successfully applied for Italian dual citizenship without his knowledge a decade ago.
Under Section 44 of the Australian constitution, anyone who is a "citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power" is not allowed to run for office.
On Friday, experts have expressed concerns that Canavan's resignation from his cabinet position was just the tip of the iceberg.
Citizenship law expert Kim Rubenstein from the Australian National University (ANU) said those in Parliament should have sought legal advice before throwing their hat in the ring, telling News Corp that taking a family member's word for it simply doesn't cut it.
