A blog by Bianca Colecchia – One Nation candidate for the federal seat of Bruce (Vic).

When I arrived in Australia in 2016 I had little money and I spoke little to no English. This country has given me so much, and it gave me the opportunity to turn my life around. 

So, I learned the language, I worked hard, and I embraced the Australian way of life. Today, I am incredibly grateful to be able to call Australia home.

To me, becoming an Australian citizen was a privilege but also a commitment to this nation and its future. 

Unfortunately, like many of you reading this on the other side, I am worried about the direction our country has taken. So, what better way could there be to give back to a country that has given me so much than to dedicate myself to help make it better? 

This is why I decided to put my hand up to run for the 2025 federal elections, and in order to be eligible and be compliant with Section 44 of the Australian Constitution, I renounced my Italian citizenship. 

It was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, and it was of course a choice made with some sorrow but also with immense pride—it was not a rejection of my roots but a testament to my dedication and full allegiance to Australia.

While I will never forget where I came from, Australia is now my home. I am here to stay, and I want to give back to the country that gave me more than I could have ever hoped for. 

To be able to stand up for the values that I hold dear and for an Australia that puts its citizens first was worth the sacrifice. A sacrifice that came from a place of love—for my past, present, and future. 

Section 44

Section 44 of the Australian Constitution states that any person who "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 a citizen of a foreign power" is not qualified to sit in the federal office.

This clause exists to prevent potential conflicts of interest and ensure those who represent us in Parliament are wholly dedicated to Australia. It’s a principle I fully support, which is why I made the personal sacrifice to renounce my Italian citizenship.

However, the way Section 44 is applied raises serious questions as it seems to be used selectively. While the clause is designed to preserve the integrity of Parliament, for some reason, it seems to be applied unevenly across different parties, with minor parties and independents getting disproportionally scrutinised. 

One only has to look at Senator Payman, who was originally elected under the Labor Party’s banner, but who nobody knew that still held dual citizenship until she left the party—could the Labor party get any more hypocritical?

The fact that Section 44 is applied selectively leads one to think that our constitutional acts are used not to preserve Parliamentary integrity but that they are just another political tool to be used against minor parties. 

Senator Payman’s citizenship situation is particularly troubling. Despite clear knowledge about her Afghan citizenship still being in place, nothing has been done, and while she keeps arguing to have taken “all reasonable steps," she has yet to present such documentation.

Politicians across the spectrum and from all backgrounds have been caught up over Section 44 over the years, from our very own One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts to Labor Senator Katy Gallagher to several others. 

Yet, Senator Hanson was subject to an abhorrent show and abuse by Senator Payman, who accused her of being racist during a Parliamentary sitting not long ago for simply calling out an issue that has nothing to do with race but all to do with our Constitution

Let’s be clear: Senator Hanson played no role in drafting the Constitution; she is merely attempting to uphold it so that the institution’s integrity can be maintained. 

The Australian Constitution is the very document that is the backbone of our democracy and must be upheld without exception or favouritism.