The decision of the High Court in relation to the dual citizenship of Labor's Katy Gallagher has led to the departure of five politicians from Parliament, four of whom were from the Labor Party. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull claimed that the outcome for

This paper looks at how section 44 has been interpreted by the High Court and whether it remains relevant in the modern world. It also examines proposals for reform and whether there is any merit in modifying or deleting the section through a referendum.

The University of Queensland's Professor Graeme Orr, claims High Court justices can hold dual citizens but parliamentarians cannot.

The present case turns on just how wide the “all reasonable steps” exception is held to be. Does section 44 just require a person to take all reasonable steps within their power to renounce, regardless of whether that renunciation is actually effective?

The dual citizenship crisis continues to haunt the Parliament into 2018, with the leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, claiming Susan Lamb, the Member for Longman, is a citizen of the United Kingdom.