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Coalition and Labor trade blows over citizenship– question time live Barnaby Joyce says he is no longer a New Zealand citizen – question time live
(35 minutes later)
6.04am BST
06:04
The government successfully gags Labor. Barnaby’s shadow, Joel Fitzgibbon, rises to second the suspension of standing orders motion.
Fitzgibbon says the suspension motion goes to the very heart of our Westminster system.
A Minister of the Crown should not serve in in place, should not exercise the power of the Executive without the confidence of this place.
Christopher Pyne moves to gag Fitzgibbon.
Updated
at 6.05am BST
6.01am BST
06:01
6.00am BST
06:00
The man of the moment.
5.59am BST
05:59
5.53am BST
05:53
Labor suspends standing orders over Joyce admission he was a NZ citizen
Given Barnaby Joyce’s acknowledge that he was a citizen, Tony Burke moves to suspend standing orders. He moves that the House:
1. Notes:a) Yesterday, this House unanimously asked the High Court to determine whether theDeputy Prime Minister is constitutionally qualified to be a Member of Parliament;
b) Yesterday, the Prime Minister claimed “The Deputy Prime Minister, is qualified to sit in this House, and the High Court will so hold” despite confirmation from the Prime Minister of New Zealand that the Deputy Prime Minister is in fact a New Zealand citizen;
c) Today in Question Time, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed he was a citizen of aforeign power prior to the weekend; and
2. Therefore, calls on the Prime Minister:a) To come clean with the Australian people and acknowledge that the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia is ineligible to hold office;
b) Rule out accepting the vote of the Deputy Prime Minister while his constitutionalqualifications are in doubt; and
c) Direct the Deputy Prime Minister to immediately resign from Cabinet.
Leader of the government in the house Christopher Pyne moves to gag Burke.
A vote is required. Ring the bells.
Updated
at 5.55am BST
5.51am BST
05:51
Tony Burke to Turnbull: In the last answer, given by the Deputy Prime Minister, he confirmed that up until the weekend, he was in violation of the Australian Constitution as a member of parliament. He had confirmed that he had renounced a foreign citizenship, which you are ineligible to nominate for Parliament if you hold. Why is he still a member of your cabinet? Why is he still voting in this Parliament when, by his own admission, it’s against the Constitution?
Turnbull makes mention of Burke’s thunderous indignation regarding citizenship.
He says section 44 is not so clear cut.
The proposition that a person who is a citizen of Australia and a citizen of another country and by that reason alone is disqualified from a member a Parliament is not an unqualified position. The High Court has set limits on it and at least one of the members opposite is relying on those limits.
That is to say, the member for Braddon, who was a British citizen at the time she nominated, says, “It is OK because of what the High Court said in Sykes v Cleary, I made reasonable efforts to renounce.”
Senator Dastyari is still a citizen of Iran. He says he has put in a big effort to renounce but it hasn’t been effective to Iranian law. He may well be right. The point of the matter is the section is to be read with its purpose and intent. The court has made that very, very clear.
5.43am BST
05:43
Joyce expecting advice he is no longer a NZ citizen
Labor’s Tony Burke to Turnbull: it goes to the eligibility of members of cabinet to hold office. Is the deputy prime minister a citizen of a foreign power?
Pyne takes a point of order on sub judice.
He argues that Speaker Smith has written to the high court to refer Joyce’s case, therefore it is subject to the sub judice rule.
Speaker Smith says he has given this a lot of thought.
With the high court the highest court of the land adjudicating this matter … I am confident the high court is not going to be swayed.
Tony Burke is like the cat that got the cream.
Barnaby Joyce answers instead.
Over the course of the weekend we went through the process of renunciation. We’ve received verbal communication from New Zealand before question time that that has now been accepted and we’re looking forward to the written advice turning up pronto.
Updated
at 5.46am BST
5.38am BST
05:38
Scott Morrison takes a question in which he calls Bill Shorten a slidey snake.
5.35am BST
05:35
Labor to Turnbull: Senator Canavan resigned from cabinet over issues that he claimed he didn’t know about. The deputy prime minister has been referred to the high court for issues that he’s known about his whole life. How is it possible that Senator Canavan had to resign from cabinet but the deputy prime minister has not?
Turnbull says Joyce and Canavan disclosed the facts relating to their cases but Labor has not. Then we are back on foreigners.
They’re not prepared to ask the deputy prime minister a question in this parliament. They’d rather get a member of the NZ Labour to ask a question in the New Zealand parliament. They’ve rather conspire with a political party in a foreign country to obtain concessions or statements which can been used to undermine the sovereignty of this country, the country in which they’re in the parliament. You would think a political party of Australia would owe its first loyalty to Australia.
Updated
at 5.41am BST
5.31am BST5.31am BST
05:3105:31
Labor has released statements from three of their MPs being questioned by the Coalition.Labor has released statements from three of their MPs being questioned by the Coalition.
MARIA VAMVAKINOU:MARIA VAMVAKINOU:
I was born in Greece to Greek parents. On 9 August, 2000, I formally renounced Greek citizenship via the Consul General in Melbourne. I received an acknowledgement of my letter on 21 August 2000. I was born in Greece to Greek parents. On 9 August 2000 I formally renounced Greek citizenship via the consul general in Melbourne. I received an acknowledgement of my letter on 21 August 2000.
In Sykes v Cleary, the High Court of Australia stated that a candidate would not be disqualified under section 44(i) providing they had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce any foreign citizenship prior to nominating for election. In Sykes v Cleary, the high court of Australia stated that a candidate would not be disqualified under section 44(i) providing they had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce any foreign citizenship prior to nominating for election.
TONY ZAPPIA:TONY ZAPPIA:
I ceased being an Italian citizen on acquiring Australian citizenship in December 1958.I ceased being an Italian citizen on acquiring Australian citizenship in December 1958.
The Italian Consul confirmed that is the case by letter dated July 2004 – before my election to parliament. The Italian consul confirmed that is the case by letter dated July 2004 – before my election to parliament.
SUSAN LAMB:SUSAN LAMB:
As part of my nomination, I was advised that I may have been entitled to UK citizenship through my father, who is deceased.As part of my nomination, I was advised that I may have been entitled to UK citizenship through my father, who is deceased.
On 23 May 2016 I took all necessary steps to renounce by completing and sending the UK Home Office Form RN, “Declaration of Renunciation of British Citizenship”, and paying the requisite fee. On 23 May 2016 I took all necessary steps to renounce by completing and sending the UK Home Office form RN, “Declaration of renunciation of British citizenship”, and paying the requisite fee.
Australia Post confirmed the Renunciation form was received by the UK Home Office in Liverpool on 25 May 2016. Australia Post confirmed the renunciation form was received by the UK Home Office in Liverpool on 25 May 2016.
I was subsequently cleared to stand by the Labor Party, and nominated on 7 June 2016. I was subsequently cleared to stand by the Labor party, and nominated on 7 June 2016.
In Sykes v Cleary, the High Court of Australia stated that a candidate would not be disqualified under section 44(i) providing they had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce any foreign citizenship prior to nominating for election. In Sykes v Cleary, the high court of Australia stated that a candidate would not be disqualified under section 44(i) providing they had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce any foreign citizenship prior to nominating for election.
I am immensely proud to have the privilege to serve as the Member for Longman. I am immensely proud to have the privilege to serve as the member for Longman.
Updated
at 5.40am BST
5.29am BST5.29am BST
05:2905:29
You find some funny things in the Constitution #qt #auspol pic.twitter.com/GG9uJfu2A7You find some funny things in the Constitution #qt #auspol pic.twitter.com/GG9uJfu2A7
5.28am BST5.28am BST
05:2805:28
Joel Fitzgibbon to Turnbull: “Why is Barnaby Joyce different to anybody who has stood aside for this particular interest?” Why hasn’t the Prime Minister directed the Deputy Prime Minister to resign? Is it because the Prime Minister relies on his single vote to cling to power?Joel Fitzgibbon to Turnbull: “Why is Barnaby Joyce different to anybody who has stood aside for this particular interest?” Why hasn’t the Prime Minister directed the Deputy Prime Minister to resign? Is it because the Prime Minister relies on his single vote to cling to power?
Turnbull repeats his previous statements, saying Joyce is the DPM, he sits in the cabinet, his citizenship was referred to the high court not because it was wrong but because the government wanted to clear up the law.Turnbull repeats his previous statements, saying Joyce is the DPM, he sits in the cabinet, his citizenship was referred to the high court not because it was wrong but because the government wanted to clear up the law.
5.24am BST5.24am BST
05:2405:24
I’m out of sync. Missed a question from Tanya Plibersek to Turnbull: The Prime Minister is due to attend the Pacific Islands forum in Samoa on 8 September. Who will be Acting Prime Minister while the Prime Minister is overseas?I’m out of sync. Missed a question from Tanya Plibersek to Turnbull: The Prime Minister is due to attend the Pacific Islands forum in Samoa on 8 September. Who will be Acting Prime Minister while the Prime Minister is overseas?
Turnbull says the usual arrangements will apply.Turnbull says the usual arrangements will apply.
ie. Barnaby.ie. Barnaby.
5.22am BST5.22am BST
05:2205:22
A government question from Andrew Hastie to Christopher Pyne regarding deviant behaviour, employer-employee organisations in order to do over Bill Shorten on citizenship and union history.A government question from Andrew Hastie to Christopher Pyne regarding deviant behaviour, employer-employee organisations in order to do over Bill Shorten on citizenship and union history.
5.20am BST5.20am BST
05:2005:20
Indi independent Cathy McGowan asks about the north east Victorian trainline: Could you please outline the scope of the works, how will the money be spent, and on what? What is the timeline for delivery? Most importantly, how will the communities of north-east Victoria, particularly of Indi, be put in touch with these decisions and know what the intentions of both ARTC and theGovernment are in this regard.Indi independent Cathy McGowan asks about the north east Victorian trainline: Could you please outline the scope of the works, how will the money be spent, and on what? What is the timeline for delivery? Most importantly, how will the communities of north-east Victoria, particularly of Indi, be put in touch with these decisions and know what the intentions of both ARTC and theGovernment are in this regard.
Transport minister Darren Chester says there will be community consultations following the $140m in funding to the service.Transport minister Darren Chester says there will be community consultations following the $140m in funding to the service.
5.17am BST5.17am BST
05:1705:17
Government question to Julie Bishop: Will the minister advise the house how serious it is for a political party in Australia to engage a foreign political party to undermine the Australian government?Government question to Julie Bishop: Will the minister advise the house how serious it is for a political party in Australia to engage a foreign political party to undermine the Australian government?
General uproarious laughter and heckling.General uproarious laughter and heckling.
Bishop repeats her press conference messages.Bishop repeats her press conference messages.
Mr Speaker, the leader of the opposition has shown that he has no interest in the true concerns about section 44. Uncertainties are awash across his side of the parliament.Mr Speaker, the leader of the opposition has shown that he has no interest in the true concerns about section 44. Uncertainties are awash across his side of the parliament.
UpdatedUpdated
at 5.23am BSTat 5.23am BST
5.14am BST5.14am BST
05:1405:14
Labor’s Tony Burke to Julie Bishop: I refer to the foreign minister’s extraordinary press conference today where the minister announced that Australia’s relationship with New Zealand would be undermined by the partisan politics of New Zealand’s next election. If the foreign minister won’t be able to work with the New Zealanders, how will the foreign minister be able to work with the deputy prime minister?Labor’s Tony Burke to Julie Bishop: I refer to the foreign minister’s extraordinary press conference today where the minister announced that Australia’s relationship with New Zealand would be undermined by the partisan politics of New Zealand’s next election. If the foreign minister won’t be able to work with the New Zealanders, how will the foreign minister be able to work with the deputy prime minister?
ZINGER!ZINGER!
Question is ruled out of order.Question is ruled out of order.
UpdatedUpdated
at 5.26am BSTat 5.26am BST
5.12am BST5.12am BST
05:1205:12
The Coalition doubles down on the foreign interference argument.The Coalition doubles down on the foreign interference argument.
The first government question to the PM.The first government question to the PM.
Will the prime minister update the house on the risk posed by foreign state interference in Australia’s democratic processes and the measures the government is taking to protect the national interest?Will the prime minister update the house on the risk posed by foreign state interference in Australia’s democratic processes and the measures the government is taking to protect the national interest?
Turnbull describes previous behaviour by Labor senator Sam Dastyari regarding Chinese-linked political donations.Turnbull describes previous behaviour by Labor senator Sam Dastyari regarding Chinese-linked political donations.
What we have seen this week is a member of the Australian Labor party contact a member of the member of the New Zealand parliament and ask them to check on the citizenship of Australians with the purpose and intent of undermining the commonwealth of Australia. So outrageous and improper has that conduct been that it was condemned already by Jacinta Ardern, the leader of the Labour party in New Zealand. The question for the leader of the opposition in Australia, is does he have the same character as Jacinta Ardern?What we have seen this week is a member of the Australian Labor party contact a member of the member of the New Zealand parliament and ask them to check on the citizenship of Australians with the purpose and intent of undermining the commonwealth of Australia. So outrageous and improper has that conduct been that it was condemned already by Jacinta Ardern, the leader of the Labour party in New Zealand. The question for the leader of the opposition in Australia, is does he have the same character as Jacinta Ardern?
UpdatedUpdated
at 5.27am BSTat 5.27am BST
5.06am BST
05:06
Turnbull: Joyce judgement on Greens MPs was wrong in constitutional law
Shorten to Turnbull: The Deputy Prime Minister told ABC, “Unfortunately, that’s the law.” He went on, “They were members of Parliament but it is quite clear on Section 44, you can’t be a member of Parliament and have dual citizenship.” “It’s black and white”, he said. Why isn’t the Prime Minister holding his deputy to his own standards.
Turnbull says Joyce does not claim to be a constitutional expert, i.e. he got the constitution wrong.
What the Deputy Prime Minister said in that interview was not a correct interpretation or description of the way the law operates. That’s the fact!
Uproarious laughter.
You can laugh as much as you like. You can laugh as much as you like. But the constitution is interpreted by the High Court of Australia.
Updated
at 5.08am BST
4.55am BST
04:55
QUESTION TIME!
*live blogger rushes off to grab hot beverage*
4.54am BST
04:54
I want to revisit Andrew Wilkie’s statement today regarding confidence and supply because I was not entirely clear last time.
Wilkie said that he had not guaranteed anyone anything.
This is what he said today:
I wish to make it absolutely clear that my relationship with the government has not changed.
I will continue to approach all issues in the parliament on their merits and have not guaranteed anyone anything.
A copy of my relevant press release from 9 July 2016 is attached.
This is the press release from 9 July when Malcolm Turnbull was trying to form government.
Reports in some media that I support Malcolm Turnbull are wrong.
What I said yesterday is that I am committed to approaching all issues on their merits and will not vote against budget supply or confidence unless doing so would be clearly warranted.
I remain steadfast in my commitment to doing no deals with any political party. Nor have I cut any deal with Malcolm Turnbull.
But more than ever Australia does need certainty and stability. I will not try and exploit the current political fragility by being politically destructive.
Updated
at 5.01am BST
4.48am BST
04:48
Cathy McGowan stands by confidence and supply agreement with Turnbull
The Indi independent has released a statement on the supply issue.
The federal independent member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, stands by her position of support for the government on the questions of confidence and supply. The confirmation follows the revelation of the deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce’s entitlement to dual citizenship.
My relationship with the government stays the same. I am not going to be distracted by party politics. We have an agenda and we still have work to do on trains, renewable energy and mobile black spot funding.
Ms McGowan said she would support an audit of the citizenship status of all MPs and senators.
She plans to move a motion seeking the register of members’ interests to include citizenship status.
Updated
at 4.54am BST
4.38am BST
04:38
Treachery/conspiracy: Coalition party room a "Kill Bill (Shorten)" affair
Paul Karp
The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, is not alone in using fighting words about the ALP and New Zealand Labour asking questions about Barnaby Joyce’s citizenship status.
In the Coalition party room, Malcolm Turnbull said that the Australian Labor party “has been conspiring with the New Zealand Labour party to undermine the position of the deputy prime minister and the government of Australia”.
There is a conspiracy between the ALP and NZ Labour party to do so.
Turnbull labelled this “sneakiness, dishonesty and disloyalty” and attacked Shorten’s record of “betrayal” under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard and his representation of workers’ interests at the Australian Workers Union.
Joyce also described the “inappropriate use of the NZ Labour party” as “treachery”. He said Shorten was “not much of a bloke” and the tactics of Labor would “not pass the pub test”.
Bishop discussed same-sex marriage, urging colleagues regardless of whether they are campaigning for Yes, No or neither to encourage Australians to have their say.
We should all encourage the public to participate in the postal plebiscite, to make it credible.”
It’s a good point but it does tend to contradict Turnbull telling 3AW on Friday that if some (or many) Australians don’t vote, it should not “delegitimise” the votes of those who do.
One senior Coalition member said Shorten’s speech last week on same-sex marriage (blasting the postal survey but announcing Labor would urge a Yes vote) was “the ugliest, most vile and most aggressive” speech he had ever heard in the parliament, particularly in its “vilification” of Turnbull.
That member warned if Shorten is the spear-carrier for the Yes case it would be “shedding votes every day”, and several others who do support the Yes case agreed Shorten does not represent them.
Despite all the talk of how vile Shorten’s speech was, there was no discussion of acting special minister of state Mathias Cormann’s offer to draft a bill setting the ground rules and applying electoral act protections to the postal survey debate.
Updated
at 4.40am BST
4.32am BST
04:32
#BREAKING: Jacinda Ardern says Julie Bishops comments "highly regrettable" will register her disappointment with Aust HC @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/RReRjRIM82
4.27am BST
04:27
Lunch-time politics
The citizenship fallout continues with the Turnbull government threatening to refer Labor MPs to the high court over potential dual citizenship. The Coalition has also accused Labor of deliberately conspiring with a “foreign party” – aka the NZ Labour party – to undermine confidence in the Australian government.
Bob Katter says he is not sticking by his agreement on confidence and supply with Malcolm Turnbull because he has not delivered his rural and regional wish list. This does not matter so much at this stage because the government still has a majority of one but, if Joyce were to be struck out, then it would become an issue.
Independent Andrew Wilkie said he has always approached the parliaments on the issues and said he never had an agreement.
Nick Xenophon, whose MP Rebekha Sharkie is in the lower house, says that, until the high court rules, nothing to see here.
Independent Cathy McGowan is due to put out a statement.
Updated
at 4.36am BST
4.09am BST
04:09
Nick Xenophon has just visited. He is not entering into the confidence and supply issue because, until the high court rules otherwise, Joyce remains an MP.
Updated
at 4.23am BST
4.02am BST
04:02
Richard Di Natale and Sarah Hanson-Young are outlining the Greens’ position on the media reforms.
Hanson-Young says if the government wants the media package they need to protect the public broadcasters from Tony Abbott and One Nation. The Greens don’t want the ABC and SBS to be punching bags.
Updated
at 4.24am BST
3.53am BST
03:53
Re the Furreners’ argument:
Bishop also told party room it was "treachery" for ALP to "conspire" with NZ Labour #auspol
The implication here is Australia's foreign minister would not trust a Labour government in New Zealand #auspol
And JBish said as much to reporters.
New Zealand is facing an election. Should there be a change of government, I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved in allegations designed to undermine the government of Australia.
I’m referring to Bill Shorten using a foreign political party to raise questions in a foreign parliament deliberately designed to undermine confidence in the Australian government.
Updated
at 4.16am BST