By-election for Braddon after Justine Keay resigns over High Court citizenship ruling
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The seat of Braddon in Tasmania's north-west is set for a by-election after its federal member Justine Keay resigned over her UK citizenship.
It is likely to be a repeat of the 2016 election — with Labor's Ms Keay vowing to fight on and nominate for preselection, and former member for Braddon Brett Whitely the probable pick for the Liberals.
Ms Keay announced her resignation along with three other federal MPs after the High Court ruled Labor senator Katy Gallagher could not sit in Parliament because she was a dual citizen when elected.
Ms Keay's situation is very similar to that of Ms Gallagher. She was elected at the 2016 federal election, replacing Mr Whitely.
She was found to be a British citizen at the time of her election, but said she took all reasonable steps to renounce her citizenship before she won her seat.
Ms Keay later revealed she did not actually receive confirmation her citizenship had been renounced until July 11 — more than a week after the federal election.
Keay determined to contest again
In resigning, Ms Keay told Parliament she had been upfront and honest with her electorate.
"You just need to look at my disclosure for that," she said.
"I've been criticised for being too honest — a bit of an oxymoron for a politician, perhaps."
She said she would nominate for preselection to contest the Braddon by-election.
"The people in my community deserve a representative that cares about them, respects them and listens to them," she said.
Mr Whitely is likely to be the Liberals' pick to contest the seat.
Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz would not comment on who the party would preselect, but said the Liberals had someone ready.
"The Liberal Party has been ready for this eventuality because it was so predictable, and the organisation will be speaking about that in due course," he said.
Senator Abetz said Ms Keay knew she was in strife "every step of the way".
"Instead of doing the honourable thing, she went on to claim more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded salary despite constantly failing to deliver for her electorate," he said.
Lambie holding out for Senate bid
Former senator Jacqui Lambie, who herself resigned over citizenship issues, has said she will not run for the seat. In a statement, Glynn Williams from the Jacqui Lambie Network, said Ms Lambie knew in her "heart of hearts" her place to fight for Tasmanians was in the Senate.
"Jacqui wants all Tasmanians to know that she will not, under any circumstances, be standing as a candidate for any election to be called for the seat of Braddon," he said.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman welcomed a by-election.
"I do think it's regrettable that some members would fight this out knowing that inevitably it might lead to a situation such as this," he said.
"If a number [of them] had done the right thing sooner, we wouldn't be asking those questions."
Topics: government-and-politics, elections, polls, burnie-7320, tas
