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Barnaby Joyce says he is no longer a New Zealand citizen – question time live Barnaby Joyce says he is no longer a New Zealand citizen – politics live
(35 minutes later)
6.32am BST
06:32
Tony Burke is detailing all of the crossover between Bruce Billson’s habits and the Franchise Council prior to leaving parliament. It is a forensic account of Billson’s media releases, his Twitter feed and other appearances.
Burke said they raise serious issues while he was reportedly being paid by the Franchise Council. He wants to refer it to the parliament’s powerful privileges committee.
He raises some very substantial and serious allegations. I will try to get a copy of the statement so I don’t muck it up.
6.24am BST
06:24
Tony Burke is questioning Speaker Tony Smith on the money paid to former Liberal small business minister Bruce Billson prior to him leaving parliament from the Franchise Council of Australia.
It goes to the details reported by 7.30.
Updated
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6.21am BST
06:21
The government successfully gagged Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon and then voted down the suspension motion. Question time is over.
6.18am BST
06:18
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave.
6.11am BST
06:11
Updated
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6.09am BST
06:09
Barnaby is obviously the key target for photographers in the house today. Bowers reports he keeps putting his hands up to his head so the photographers lift their lenses to shoot him but then he brings them down and laughing uproariously.
He knows the photographers are after exasperation photos so he has now put his hands in his pockets.
6.04am BST6.04am BST
06:0406:04
The government successfully gags Labor. Barnaby’s shadow, Joel Fitzgibbon, rises to second the suspension of standing orders motion.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.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.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.Christopher Pyne moves to gag Fitzgibbon.
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6.01am BST6.01am BST
06:0106:01
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06:0006:00
The man of the moment.The man of the moment.
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5.59am BST5.59am BST
05:5905:59
5.53am BST5.53am BST
05:5305:53
Labor suspends standing orders over Joyce admission he was a NZ citizenLabor 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: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; 1. Notes:a) Yesterday, this House unanimously asked the High Court to determine whether the deputy 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; 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 c) Today in question time, the deputy prime minister confirmed he was a citizen of a foreign 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; 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 b) Rule out accepting the vote of the deputy prime minister while his constitutional qualifications are in doubt; and
c) Direct the Deputy Prime Minister to immediately resign from Cabinet. c) Direct the deputy prime minister to immediately resign from cabinet.
Leader of the government in the house Christopher Pyne moves to gag Burke.Leader of the government in the house Christopher Pyne moves to gag Burke.
A vote is required. Ring the bells.A vote is required. Ring the bells.
UpdatedUpdated
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5.51am BST5.51am BST
05:5105:51
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?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.Turnbull makes mention of Burke’s thunderous indignation regarding citizenship.
He says section 44 is not so clear cut.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.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.”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.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 BST5.43am BST
05:4305:43
Joyce expecting advice he is no longer a NZ citizenJoyce 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?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.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.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.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.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.Tony Burke is like the cat that got the cream.
Barnaby Joyce answers instead.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.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.
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5.38am BST5.38am BST
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Scott Morrison takes a question in which he calls Bill Shorten a slidey snake.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
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5.31am BST
05:31
Labor has released statements from three of their MPs being questioned by the Coalition.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
I am immensely proud to have the privilege to serve as the member for Longman.
Updated
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5.29am BST
05:29
You find some funny things in the Constitution #qt #auspol pic.twitter.com/GG9uJfu2A7
5.28am BST
05:28
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?
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 BST
05:24
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?
Turnbull says the usual arrangements will apply.
ie. Barnaby.
5.22am BST
05:22
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.
5.20am BST
05:20
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.
Transport minister Darren Chester says there will be community consultations following the $140m in funding to the service.
5.17am BST
05:17
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?
General uproarious laughter and heckling.
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.
Updated
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5.14am BST
05:14
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?
ZINGER!
Question is ruled out of order.
Updated
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5.12am BST
05:12
The Coalition doubles down on the foreign interference argument.
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?
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?
Updated
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