It was reported yesterday in mainstream media that Ms Sudmalis was born to an Australian father and a British mother and as such the position of Section 44 (i) was raised as it has been for several Federal politicians in recent weeks. According the the SMH journalist Ann's mother did not renounce her UK citizenship until 1989. The issue raised was that the UK Home Office guidelines on citizenship giving up your citizenship or status only affects you and not any other members of your family. Before 1 January 1983 British women were not able to pass on citizenship to their children born abroad in the same way as British men. Children born before 1 January 1983 ( NOTE: Ms Sudmalis was born in Australia in 1955) to British mothers can apply for registration as a British citizen under section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981.They will normally qualify if they would have become British citizens automatically under that Act had women been able to pass on citizenship in the same way as men. (source) The British Law A person will qualify for registration under section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981 if: • they were born before 1 January 1983 • they would either: o have become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under section 5 or schedule 3, paragraph 3 of the British Nationality Act 1948, if those sections had provided for women to pass on citizenship in the same way as men o have become a CUKC under section 12(2), 12(3), 12(4) or 12(5), of the British Nationality Act 1948, if those sections had provided for women to pass on citizenship in the same way as men, and women had been able to pass on British subject status in the same way as men before 1949 • they would have had the right of abode in the United Kingdom by virtue of ssection 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 if they had they become CUKC as set out in the previous bullets • the Secretary of State is satisfied that they are of good character (source) The Australian Law 44. Any person who - (i.) Is under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power: (source) In Ann's MEDIA STATEMENT 16 August, 2017 Citizenship she clearly states: "Last night I received confirmation from the UK Home Office confirming that I neither hold, nor have ever held British citizenship. "I deem the matter finalised, I have no further comment to make."
