BENDIGO'S Liberal Party candidate started the process to renounce his Egyptian citizenship almost a year before the May 2019 federal election.
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Sam Gayed started the process in June 2018 with the hope of gaining Liberal preselection, he said, something he secured in March.
"People might not know because no-one has asked me about it, but I was determined to run for a long time," he said.
"I always wanted to embrace the culture and engage with the community here. I always had this passion.
"When I moved to Australia I did so with my heart and mind, that's why I could make the decision to renounce my Egyptian citizenship."
I started early on to make sure I was ready and prepared in time.
- Sam Gayed, Liberal Party candidate
Documents tended to the AEC showed his Egyptian citizenship was formerly renounced in October.
They were published online by the AEC, as part of a checklist for eligibility under section 44 of the Australian constitution.
An Egyptian ministerial decree was issued on 18 October permitting Mr Gayed to acquire Australian citizenship and formerly renounce citizenship ties to his country of birth, according to the AEC's records.
"I started early on to make sure I was ready and prepared in time," he said.
UAP candidate provides no evidence to back up citizenship eligibility
Clive Palmer's candidate for Bendigo did not provide evidence he was eligible to sit in parliament, leaving details about his family's history out of his AEC submission.
It came after a parliamentary term riven by politicians' resignations because of citizenship breaches under section 44 of the constitution.
The United Australia Party's Adam Veitch marked "yes" when asked if he knew he had a parent or grandparent born in another country, but did not provide their details.
Nor did he answer a question about why he did not provide that information.
Mr Veitch was contacted for comment.
The Australian Labor Party's Lisa Chesters' parents were among those born in another country. She submitted documentation from the UK Border Agency declaring the renunciation of her British citizenship.
The Greens' Robert Holian said his mother was born in Italy but that he was not eligible for that country's citizenship.
"I have researched my family history and compared my details to those on the consular website," he told the AEC.
"On the 21st of November 1972 when my mother became an Australian citizen, Italian law did not allow dual citizenship, and her citizenship was automatically revoked."
It was not until 1992 that Italy changed its dual citizenship laws, Mr Holion wrote. He was born in 1991.
"I cannot be eligible for Italian citizenship by descent," Mr Holion wrote.
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