Erich Abetz: an update

John Hawkins

Erich Abetz gives the wrong Citizenship Number on his 2004 nomination form but the correct date. On his 1998 nomination form he gives no citizenship number and the wrong date for his citizenship. On neither form does he give a date of birth or place of birth and his Christian name is incorrectly spelt. It should be remembered that this nomination form gives employment to Abetz as a well paid Senator in the Australian Parliament. It lacks the attention to detail one would expect when signed by a Barrister and Solicitor and its acceptance does not reflect well on either the proponent or the Australian Electoral Commission.

We now come to the matter of his German Citizenship. In a letter from the Regional Director of the Department of Immigration in Hobart, addressed to the First Secretary at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra, it is stated that “his German passport was not collected” this would suggest he maintained his Dual Nationality, which, if this is the case, debars him from sitting in the Senate.
Erich Abetz an update

Erich Abetz arrived in Melbourne as a child migrant on the “Castel Felice” on the 22 March 1961. He stated that his German Passport was handed in when he obtained a new Passport No. C167 4055, issued in Melbourne on 22 July 1971. His DOB was given as 25/1/1958 making him three on his arrival and thirteen when he received the Melbourne passport which gave his nationality as German, he being born in Stuttgart.

Erich Abetz was given a file no T74/2293 when he applied for Australian Citizenship, aged 16 on 11th September 1974. He was interviewed on 30th September 1974 in Hobart by Merrilyn Otoropec, he stated that he was prepared to take an Oath of Allegiance, he then had fair hair, blue eyes and was a student, 5’ 7” high.

The application was approved in a letter dated 19th November 1974 and a Private Citizenship Ceremony was arranged for 3rd December 1974 at 6pm in Hobart. The oath was taken before Jan Urbanski, Migration Officer, Grade I and his Certificate of Australian Citizenship No is AC (G) 102404.

Erich Abetz gives the wrong Citizenship Number on his 2004 nomination form but the correct date. On his 1998 nomination form he gives no citizenship number and the wrong date for his citizenship. On neither form does he give a date of birth or place of birth and his Christian name is incorrectly spelt. It should be remembered that this nomination form gives employment to Abetz as a well paid Senator in the Australian Parliament. It lacks the attention to detail one would expect when signed by a Barrister and Solicitor and its acceptance does not reflect well on either the proponent or the Australian Electoral Commission.

We now come to the matter of his German Citizenship. In a letter from the Regional Director of the Department of Immigration in Hobart, addressed to the First Secretary at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra, it is stated that “his German passport was not collected” this would suggest he maintained his Dual Nationality, which, if this is the case, debars him from sitting in the Senate.

I await your reply Erich Abetz.

John Hawkins