sydney australia face series by-elections could topple government trail opinion poll lose slender majority bizarre citizenship crisis engulf side parliament senator katy gallagher lower-house member david feeney opposition labor party refer high court wednesday determine whether hold british well australian citizenship neither member government outcome gallagher case particular rest whether make reasonable step renounce british citizenship set precedent could late unseat government members dual citizens ineligible elect office australia 116-year-old constitution nation half population either bear overseas parent rule disqualify nine lawmakers leave prime minister malcolm turnbull liberal-national coalition cling minority government deputy prime minister barnaby joyce briefly lose seat find also hold new zealand citizenship back by-election last weekend by-election former tennis star john alexander theoretically safe sydney seat dec. 19 determine whether government regain one-seat majority however victory may last since citizenship status another four lower-house government lawmakers call question deadline politicians disclose birthplace parent grandparents pass tuesday many inadequate disclosures ask question provide answer labor leader bill shorten tell reporters canberra government behind opinion poll keen avoid by-elections vote labor proposal refer lawmakers case high court say would revisit matter gallagher case hear gallagher file paperwork pay process fee renounce british citizenship two months elect july 2016. get confirmation british home office renunciation process vote disclosure document show several lawmakers similar bind test case constitutional law expert george williams dean law university new south wales tell reuters telephone leave open possibility go quite time large question mark quite number people turnbull government would rely support handful independent mps retain power alexander lose dec. 19 by-election high court oust another coalition lawmaker low house uncertain territory still know sure eligible university queensland politics lecturer chris salisbury tell reuters refiles add drop word lose paragraph 17 australia 's high court rule new citizenship test case