While Australia and New Zealand, both being former British colonies, have a close relationship historically, the scandal highlights the complexities of citizenship in a country that is arguably one of the most multicultural in the world: Australia is the country with the second-highest percentage of the population born overseas, after Saudi Arabia.

Matt Canavan, Australia’s resources minister, resigned his senate seat after it emerged he also had Italian citizenship. In Australia, home to a large Italian immigrant population, Italian is the third-most common language spoken in households after English and Chinese. Another member of parliament, Julia Banks, was cleared of having Greek citizenship descended from her father after an investigation by her party. Greek is similarly one of the most common languages spoken in Australian homes. Overall, according to the BBC, 25 federal members of parliament who were born overseas have had to confirm whether they might have broken Australian law.

Canavan, whose case is currently being reviewed by the High Court in Australia, said his mother—who herself was not born in Italy—signed him up for Italian citizenship when he was 25 without him knowing. For any current or aspiring politicians in Australia looking to clarify their citizenship status, checking with mom first might be a good place to start.

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