Citizenship

The issue of Nick McKim's citizenship was raised during the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis while he was a sitting senator.^[7] McKim applied to renounce his UK citizenship by filling out the renunciation form (RN) on 31 July 2015. The form was received by the British Home Office on 14 August 2015, further received for processing on 4 September 2015, and formally registered on 1 February 2016.^[8] The Home Office citizenship renunciation guidelines state that a person will cease being a British citizen after the date of registration.^[9]

Because McKim's RN form was not registered until 1 February 2016, he maintained dual citizenship while serving as a senator, in breach of the Australian constitution, from 20 August 2015 (when he was sworn in as the retiring Christine Milne's replacement) until 1 February 2016, a period of just over 5 months. Since nominations for the 2016 federal election occurred after McKim's citizenship was formally renounced, he was not in breach of section 44(i) when nominating for that election.

Tasmanian government minister

In the 2010 Tasmanian election McKim achieved 24.1% of first preferences in his lower house seat.^[12] On 19 April 2010, Labor premier David Bartlett agreed to appoint McKim as a minister along with Cassy O'Connor as cabinet secretary.^[13]

As a minister, McKim originally held the portfolios of Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy, Corrections and Consumer Protection, Climate Change, Human Services, and Community Development: though he delegated responsibility for the portfolios of Human Services and Community Development to fellow Greens MP and then cabinet secretary Cassy O'Connor.^[14] After a Cabinet reshuffle in November 2010 the portfolios of human services and community development were formally assumed by newly appointed Greens minister Cassy O'Connor, whilst McKim was sworn in as minister for the newly created Aboriginal Affairs portfolio alongside his other three portfolios.^[15] Another Cabinet reshuffle, caused by Lin Thorp losing her seat in the Tasmanian Legislative Council elections and David Bartlett resigning from the assembly, then saw McKim sworn in on 13 May 2011 as Minister for Education and Skills, whilst retaining the three portfolios of corrections, consumer protection and sustainable transport.^[16] McKim was responsible for overseeing the closing of the Hayes Prison Farm and the removal of Flex Learning for prisoners as Minister for both portfolio areas of Education and Corrections.

On 16 January 2014, the premier, Lara Giddings, announced that the power sharing arrangement with the Tasmanian Greens was over, and that McKim and O'Connor would be replaced by Labor MPs effective on 17 January. She said that the ALP would not govern with Greens in the cabinet in future.^[17]

McKim was re-elected to the House of Assembly at the 2014 Tasmanian state election with 13.4% of the primary vote.^[18]

Federal politics

After Christine Milne's resignation from the senate, McKim was announced to be one of the 10 Greens members vying to replace her. The ballot, open to Greens members, was held in July 2015.^[19] McKim won the preselection ballot comfortably, defeating Huon Valley Councillor Rosalie Woodruff, environmental lawyer Vanessa Bleyer and several other more minor candidates.^[20][21]

The Tasmanian Greens announced at a press conference on 30 July 2015 that McKim had won the membership ballot to replace Christine Milne in the Senate.^[22] He resigned from the Tasmanian Parliament on 4 August, and a countback was conducted to elect Woodruff as his replacement on 17 August.^[23] McKim was appointed to the Senate by a joint sitting of the Tasmanian Parliament on 19 August 2015.^[24][25] Unlike other Greens Senators, Senator McKim has had ministerial experience due to him having been a minister in the previous Tasmanian ALP Government whilst as State Greens leader.

McKim was re-elected to the Senate at the 2019 federal election where he received 12.4% of the state's vote, with a swing of 1.41% in his favour.^[26]

McKim served as Greens Co-Deputy Leader from 4 February 2020 to 10 June 2022 and in the following positions: Treasury, Finance & Economic Justice Immigration & Citizenship Digital Rights, I.T. & the National Broadband Network.^[27] Senator McKim has served as spokesperson within the Greens for Economic Justice, Treasury, Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 17 June 2022 and Whip for the Greens in the Senate from 18 October 2021.^[28]

On 5 September 2022 McKim called on the Reserve Bank of Australia to pause interest rate hikes.^[29] This call was the subject of some controversy, with critics suggesting that McKim had a financial conflict of interest due to his ownership of four properties.^[30] The following day McKim called on the RBA Governor Philip Lowe to resign, stating that Lowe "has not demonstrated that he understands the impact his actions have had on a small business owner or a casual worker trying to pay the rent".