CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian government minister quit the Cabinet on Tuesday after his mother told him he might be Italian and ineligible to be a lawmaker.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan’s shock announcement that the Italian government lists him as a citizen followed the resignations this month of two senators who discovered days apart that they had technically never been elected because they were dual citizens.

Australia’s constitution states that a ‘‘citizen of a foreign power’’ is not eligible to be elected to Parliament.

Canavan said his mother contacted him last week with news that he might be Italian.

His predicament amplified calls for changes to a section of the constitution penned in the 19th century.

associated press