Citizenship audit could establish status of all federal politicians — but major parties aren't keen

When will it end? Just days after five federal politicians — including the deputy prime minister — were booted out of Parliament by the High Court, Senate President Stephen Parry is now under a cloud.

He concedes he too might be a dual citizen and if that is confirmed by the UK, he'll also leave the Parliament.

It's raised the question again of who else might be caught up in the mess.

The Greens say they have a simple solution to end the uncertainty once and for all.

Since the beginning of this saga they have demanded that every MP and senator be independently investigated through an audit process to ensure they are in fact eligible to sit in Parliament.

So far the major parties have argued against the audit, but they're now being accused of hiding from scrutiny because more within their ranks have questionable overseas heritage.

What would an audit look like?

The Greens predict it would only take about a month to conduct the independent investigation and sift through the backgrounds of every member of Parliament.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale says a handful of lawyers and a senior public servant could easily conduct the audit.

He's suggested the task be taken on by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA), the body that was set up to monitor the misuse of work expenses by politicians.

"The way to do it is to have a comprehensive audit of the status of all MPs just to ensure if there is anybody else there who is a dual citizen, we deal with it, and deal with it in one hit. This is distracting the business of government," Senator Di Natale said.

A spokesman for The Greens said under the audit proposal, politicians would have to provide documentation, perhaps going back two generations to show where their parents were born.

Those that don't provide sufficient proof to rule them out would be investigated further.

What do the major parties think?

Leaders of both major parties have resisted the idea of an audit. Attorney-General George Brandis says people are coming forward if they think they have a problem.

"If anybody wants to make an allegation that a member of Parliament was not duly elected because of a section 44 issue, or for any other reason for that matter, then let them make that allegation," he said.

"But in relation to the government members, and also others including the two Green senators, people have acted honourably, they have come forward as soon as they've identified they may have a problem and that is the position."

The Greens point to the case of Stephen Parry as evidence people have not been upfront about their concerns. Senator Parry waited until after the High Court's ruling to come forward and to flag he might have a problem.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has also argued against the idea of checking the details of every MP and senator. Opposition frontbencher Tim Hammond has reiterated that position.

"It should not be about an audit," he told Sky News the day after Senator Parry's issues came to light.

"This should be about a reasonable expectation of the community that parliamentarians just do their job properly."

He says Labor has years of experience making sure vetting is done properly.

Do backbenchers support the audit proposal?

There are pockets of support from the backbenches of the major parties for the widespread investigation. Labor MP Meryl Swanson has told AM an audit would be a fair approach.

"There can't be one rule instituted by the High Court no less for some, and then others just mopping their brow thinking 'phew, we dodged that'," she said.

Government backbencher Llew O'Brien says he too would support an audit if it's what voters want.

"I certainly wouldn't have an issue with it, if the Australian people want that I certainly would not be rejecting the idea."

Another government MP, Craig Kelly, was already supporting the idea of a blanket audit in August.

"It's in our best interests to clear this issue up as quickly as we possibly can and get on with issues that are important to Australians," he said at the time.

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