5 new Australian MP's ousted for holding dual citizenship Wednesday May 09,2018

Five new Australian parliamentarians have been ousted for holding dual citizenship when they were elected.

Last year, 10 MPs and senators were removed from office for violating a constitutional rule that prohibits federal political candidates from being dual nationals.

On Wednesday May 09,2018, Senator Katy Gallagher was ruled ineligible by a court in what was widely viewed as a fresh test case.

Four other politicians who were under scrutiny resigned after the verdict.

Ms Gallagher and lower house MPs Justine Keay, Josh Wilson and Susan Lamb are members of the opposition Labor party.

The fifth MP, Rebekha Sharkie, is part of minor party Centre Alliance

The dual citizenship saga has destabilised Australian politics since July 2017, at times threatening Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's majority in the House of Representatives.

The High Court of Australia ruled that Ms Gallagher's Senate seat would be filled by counting back votes from the 2016 federal election.

The other politicians will be replaced through by-elections, due to a different process for the lower house.

Ms Gallagher had referred herself to the court last year after questions emerged over whether she had renounced her British citizenship in time to run for office.