Candidate's political quest unearthed seven potential citizenships

Published: 19 February 2019

Last updated: 4 March 2024

When Tim Hollo began his campaign for a seat in parliament, he never expected it to take a president's signature and a 75-year-old document to renounce his dual citizenships

TIM HOLLO KNEW FROM the outset he would have to confront Section 44 of the Constitution — the footnote proscribing dual-citizen politicians that in 2017 felled then-deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and 14 others.

But the Greens candidate had no idea his fight for the new seat of Canberra would take him on a 13-month investigation to get to the bottom of seven possible citizenships, thanks to his itinerant ancestors.

"I knew that as the child of refugees, with a pretty complex background, I was going to have an interesting time, but I had no idea how difficult it was going to get or how long it was going to take," he said.

And it came down to the wire: just weeks ago Mr Hollo was prepared to withdraw, because he could not clear a surprise citizenship.

FULL STORY Federal candidate Tim Hollo's months-long investigation turned up seven potential citizenships (ABC)

Photo: Tim Hollo's family had a long and interesting journey to Australia (ABC/Jake Evans)