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Australian Senator Who Breast-Fed Daughter in Parliament Resigns Australian Senator Who Breast-Fed Daughter in Parliament Resigns
(about 5 hours later)
SYDNEY, Australia — In May, she made headlines around the world by becoming the first Australian to breast-feed a child in the federal Parliament, for which she was praised by Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook.SYDNEY, Australia — In May, she made headlines around the world by becoming the first Australian to breast-feed a child in the federal Parliament, for which she was praised by Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook.
But on Tuesday, the Australian politician, Larissa Waters, a senator and deputy co-leader of the country’s Greens Party, announced that she was “devastated” to be resigning after she disclosed her previously unknown Canadian citizenship. Under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution, citizens of other countries are not eligible to run for federal Parliament. But on Tuesday, the Australian politician, Larissa Waters, a senator and deputy co-leader of the country’s Greens Party, announced that she was “devastated” to be resigning after she disclosed her previously unknown Canadian citizenship.
“It is with great shock and sadness that I have discovered that I hold dual citizenship of Australia and Canada,” she said. Under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution, citizens of other countries are not eligible to run for federal Parliament.
“It is with great shock and sadness that I have discovered that I hold dual citizenship of Australia and Canada,” Ms. Waters said.
“I just want to apologize to my party and to all the wonderful Queenslanders I’ve been so proud to represent in the last six years,” she added, her voice choking with emotion, in an afternoon news conference.“I just want to apologize to my party and to all the wonderful Queenslanders I’ve been so proud to represent in the last six years,” she added, her voice choking with emotion, in an afternoon news conference.
Ms. Waters had been a senator for the Greens since 2011 and a deputy leader since 2015. Born to Australian parents in Canada, Ms. Waters said she had sought legal advice after the resignation last week of Scott Ludlam, the other deputy co-leader. Mr. Ludlam discovered that he held New Zealand citizenship after a legal expert contacted him about the constitutional conflict.Ms. Waters had been a senator for the Greens since 2011 and a deputy leader since 2015. Born to Australian parents in Canada, Ms. Waters said she had sought legal advice after the resignation last week of Scott Ludlam, the other deputy co-leader. Mr. Ludlam discovered that he held New Zealand citizenship after a legal expert contacted him about the constitutional conflict.
The resignations of two of the Green Party’s most popular and senior politicians was a double whammy for supporters, many of whom said they were heartbroken by the revelations. The resignations of two of the Greens Party’s most popular and senior politicians was a double whammy for supporters, many of whom said they were heartbroken by the revelations.
Others were exasperated by what seemed to be yet another vetting oversight that should have been caught early in the campaign process.Others were exasperated by what seemed to be yet another vetting oversight that should have been caught early in the campaign process.
Richard Di Natale, the leader of the Greens, said the party had “committed to an urgent root-and-branch review of our processes.”Richard Di Natale, the leader of the Greens, said the party had “committed to an urgent root-and-branch review of our processes.”
Ms. Waters said she would continue to work with politicians to advance environmental causes.Ms. Waters said she would continue to work with politicians to advance environmental causes.
“I still have unshakable hope for our common future on this planet,” she said, finishing her statement on an optimistic note. “Our movement is so much bigger than any one person, and we will win in the end.”“I still have unshakable hope for our common future on this planet,” she said, finishing her statement on an optimistic note. “Our movement is so much bigger than any one person, and we will win in the end.”
Some supporters implored Ms. Waters to renounce her Canadian citizenship and run again in the next election.Some supporters implored Ms. Waters to renounce her Canadian citizenship and run again in the next election.