Labor, coalition in candidate rule deal

Labor and the coalition have reached agreement on new rules to ensure federal election candidates don't hold dual citizenship.

Candidates for five upcoming by-elections - four of which were triggered by the citizenship debacle - will be the first to be covered by the rules.

Speaker Tony Smith has said he won't be setting the date of the by-elections until the regulations are in place.

The regulations will change the candidate nomination form to include a checklist for candidates to help them comply with section 44 of the constitution.

This section not only bans dual citizens, but bankrupts, public servants, people with a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in an agreement with the public service and those convicted of crimes with a jail term of a year or more.

The candidate details will be published by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Once the regulations are approved by the Governor-General, they will be tabled in parliament and start operating the following day.

It is understood the government wants to bring in the regulations as swiftly as possible.

The by-elections will be held in the seats of Perth, Fremantle, Braddon, Longman and Mayo.