Edward McHugh was enrolled to vote when he turned 18 in 1986 and more than 30 years later he was issued an Australian passport. Mr McHugh was born in the Cook Islands, a New Zealand territory, but was adopted by a Queensland family when he was six. Mr McHugh's barrister Matthew Albert said two significant representations had been made to Mr McHugh about his citizenship, 31 years apart. Mr Albert said the safe passage statement in Australian passports record, in the name of the governor-general on behalf of the Queen, that the holder of an Australian passport is an Australian citizen. While Mr McHugh is no longer in immigration detention, Mr Albert said he remains at risk of being taken back into detention or deported at any time.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 13, 2021 01:52 UTC