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| Coalition elevates citizenship crisis into diplomatic incident with New Zealand | Coalition elevates citizenship crisis into diplomatic incident with New Zealand |
| (25 days later) | |
| The Turnbull government lost a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives as the culmination of a chaotic and bitterly contested day where it elevated its dual citizenship crisis into a full blown trans-Tasman diplomatic incident. | The Turnbull government lost a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives as the culmination of a chaotic and bitterly contested day where it elevated its dual citizenship crisis into a full blown trans-Tasman diplomatic incident. |
| The lost vote in the House late on Tuesday meant Labor amended environmental legislation to include a criticism that the Coalition was failing to protect the Great Barrier Reef – a procedural embarrassment that followed a day of rolling controversy about the deputy prime minister’s dual citizenship of New Zealand. | The lost vote in the House late on Tuesday meant Labor amended environmental legislation to include a criticism that the Coalition was failing to protect the Great Barrier Reef – a procedural embarrassment that followed a day of rolling controversy about the deputy prime minister’s dual citizenship of New Zealand. |
| As well the challenge posed by Barnaby Joyce this week referring himself to the high court – a move that could imperil the government’s slender one seat majority in the lower house – Labor is continuing to raise questions about the citizenship status of two other government MPs, Julia Banks and Anne Sudmalis. | As well the challenge posed by Barnaby Joyce this week referring himself to the high court – a move that could imperil the government’s slender one seat majority in the lower house – Labor is continuing to raise questions about the citizenship status of two other government MPs, Julia Banks and Anne Sudmalis. |
| Banks is continuing to insist she has “never” been a dual citizen of Greece, but has declined to answer a specific question from Guardian Australia about whether she has taken the precaution of actively renouncing any citizenship entitlement she may have gained by descent. | Banks is continuing to insist she has “never” been a dual citizen of Greece, but has declined to answer a specific question from Guardian Australia about whether she has taken the precaution of actively renouncing any citizenship entitlement she may have gained by descent. |
| Sudmalis, whose mother was born in the United Kingdom, is understood to be clarifying her citizenship status with the British government. | Sudmalis, whose mother was born in the United Kingdom, is understood to be clarifying her citizenship status with the British government. |
| With the citizenship controversy dominating the political day, the government lost the vote in the House late on Tuesday because a number of senior players, including Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, Paul Fletcher, Michael Keenan, and Joyce, were absent from the chamber. | With the citizenship controversy dominating the political day, the government lost the vote in the House late on Tuesday because a number of senior players, including Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, Paul Fletcher, Michael Keenan, and Joyce, were absent from the chamber. |
| It corrected the misstep by recommitting the vote. | It corrected the misstep by recommitting the vote. |
| The Turnbull government also attempted to raise the political stakes by launching a full-frontal political attack on Labor for seeking information from the Labour party in New Zealand about the operation of citizenship rules in the country. | The Turnbull government also attempted to raise the political stakes by launching a full-frontal political attack on Labor for seeking information from the Labour party in New Zealand about the operation of citizenship rules in the country. |
| Over the course of Tuesday, Malcolm Turnbull accused Bill Shorten of colluding with New Zealand Labour to try and bring down his government – and the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, declared she would find it difficult to work with MPs involved in the incident. | Over the course of Tuesday, Malcolm Turnbull accused Bill Shorten of colluding with New Zealand Labour to try and bring down his government – and the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, declared she would find it difficult to work with MPs involved in the incident. |
| Late on Tuesday Labor confirmed that Penny Wong’s chief of staff, Marcus Ganley, a New Zealander, had what Wong’s office characterised as “informal discussions with New Zealand friends about domestic political issues, including the section 44 debate”. | Late on Tuesday Labor confirmed that Penny Wong’s chief of staff, Marcus Ganley, a New Zealander, had what Wong’s office characterised as “informal discussions with New Zealand friends about domestic political issues, including the section 44 debate”. |
| A statement from Wong’s spokesman said: “At no point did [Ganley] make any request to raise the issue of dual citizenship in parliament, a fact confirmed today by [Labour MP Chris] Hipkins and the New Zealand Labour leader.” | A statement from Wong’s spokesman said: “At no point did [Ganley] make any request to raise the issue of dual citizenship in parliament, a fact confirmed today by [Labour MP Chris] Hipkins and the New Zealand Labour leader.” |
| As well as pursuing contact between the ALP and New Zealand Labour, the government also upped the political brinkmanship by applying pressure on Labor MPs over their citizenship status. | As well as pursuing contact between the ALP and New Zealand Labour, the government also upped the political brinkmanship by applying pressure on Labor MPs over their citizenship status. |
| After warning early on Tuesday that the government might refer a group of Labor MPs to the high court, the manager of government business, Christopher Pyne used question time to warn that four Labor MPs were in the Coalition’s sights for potential dual-citizenship problems. | After warning early on Tuesday that the government might refer a group of Labor MPs to the high court, the manager of government business, Christopher Pyne used question time to warn that four Labor MPs were in the Coalition’s sights for potential dual-citizenship problems. |
| Pyne said Tony Zappia, Susan Lamb, Justine Keay, and Maria Vamvakinou, may have to be referred to the high court. | Pyne said Tony Zappia, Susan Lamb, Justine Keay, and Maria Vamvakinou, may have to be referred to the high court. |
| Labor backed those four MPs on Tuesday afternoon, saying they all met the eligibility requirements to nominate and run for parliament. | Labor backed those four MPs on Tuesday afternoon, saying they all met the eligibility requirements to nominate and run for parliament. |
| But the opposition has refused to release documents supporting its claims. | But the opposition has refused to release documents supporting its claims. |
| Three Labor MPs released statements. Vamvakinou said: “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.” | Three Labor MPs released statements. Vamvakinou said: “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.” |
| Zappa said: “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.” | Zappa said: “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.” |
| Lamb said: “On 23 May 2016 I took all necessary steps to renounce [my UK citizenship] … 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.” | Lamb said: “On 23 May 2016 I took all necessary steps to renounce [my UK citizenship] … 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.” |
| Labor pointed to a press release from Justine Keay issued on 1 August in which she said she had renounced her British citizenship before nominating. | Labor pointed to a press release from Justine Keay issued on 1 August in which she said she had renounced her British citizenship before nominating. |
| Joyce – who is under pressure to stand aside while the high court determines whether he is eligible to sit in the House – confirmed in parliament on Tuesday that he had renounced his citizenship of New Zealand. | Joyce – who is under pressure to stand aside while the high court determines whether he is eligible to sit in the House – confirmed in parliament on Tuesday that he had renounced his citizenship of New Zealand. |
| If the high court finds Joyce is not eligible to sit as the member for New England, because he was a dual citizen at the time of his nomination, that would trigger a byelection that could result in the Coalition losing its one-seat majority in the lower house. | If the high court finds Joyce is not eligible to sit as the member for New England, because he was a dual citizen at the time of his nomination, that would trigger a byelection that could result in the Coalition losing its one-seat majority in the lower house. |
| While the citizenship controversy raged throughout Tuesday, the Queensland MP Bob Katter signalled he would no longer honour the agreement he reached with Turnbull after last year’s federal election to guarantee confidence and supply. | While the citizenship controversy raged throughout Tuesday, the Queensland MP Bob Katter signalled he would no longer honour the agreement he reached with Turnbull after last year’s federal election to guarantee confidence and supply. |
| But Katter’s threat was blunted by another crossbench MP who entered a confidence and supply agreement with Turnbull immediately after the election. | But Katter’s threat was blunted by another crossbench MP who entered a confidence and supply agreement with Turnbull immediately after the election. |
| The Victorian independent Cathy McGowan said it was business as usual. “My relationship with the government stays the same,” McGowan said. “I am not going to be distracted by party politics.” | The Victorian independent Cathy McGowan said it was business as usual. “My relationship with the government stays the same,” McGowan said. “I am not going to be distracted by party politics.” |
| Meanwhile, the former Greens senator Larissa Waters – who resigned from parliament last month after discovering she was a dual Australian-Canadian citizen – added her voice to calls that Joyce should resign from parliament. | Meanwhile, the former Greens senator Larissa Waters – who resigned from parliament last month after discovering she was a dual Australian-Canadian citizen – added her voice to calls that Joyce should resign from parliament. |
| “It’s looking like the government’s issuing one rule for their own, because they don’t want to lose government, and expecting everybody else to comply with a different set of standards,” she told Guardian Australia. | “It’s looking like the government’s issuing one rule for their own, because they don’t want to lose government, and expecting everybody else to comply with a different set of standards,” she told Guardian Australia. |
| “Barnaby should stand down. He’s been confirmed as a New Zealand citizen. The rules apply to him too, even though he’s the deputy prime minister. He doesn’t get a free pass. | “Barnaby should stand down. He’s been confirmed as a New Zealand citizen. The rules apply to him too, even though he’s the deputy prime minister. He doesn’t get a free pass. |
| “It’s making the government look increasingly desperate … and it’s just further eroding peoples’ confidence in the integrity of our political system. | “It’s making the government look increasingly desperate … and it’s just further eroding peoples’ confidence in the integrity of our political system. |
| Waters wondered why Joyce thought it was acceptable to remain in cabinet as deputy prime minister when his Nationals colleague, Matt Canavan, at least stood down from his portfolio when he discovered his dual Italian citizenship. | Waters wondered why Joyce thought it was acceptable to remain in cabinet as deputy prime minister when his Nationals colleague, Matt Canavan, at least stood down from his portfolio when he discovered his dual Italian citizenship. |
| But she criticised Canavan for remaining a senator while his eligibility was in doubt. | But she criticised Canavan for remaining a senator while his eligibility was in doubt. |
| “I don’t see why he should stand down from cabinet and then not vote in the Senate and yet still keep his job,” she said of Canavan. | “I don’t see why he should stand down from cabinet and then not vote in the Senate and yet still keep his job,” she said of Canavan. |
| “If he’s got enough doubt about his citizenship that he stands down from cabinet and doesn’t vote then he should really do what the right thing and actually resign from the role, like Scott Ludlam and I have done. | “If he’s got enough doubt about his citizenship that he stands down from cabinet and doesn’t vote then he should really do what the right thing and actually resign from the role, like Scott Ludlam and I have done. |
| “He chose not to, and now Barnaby Joyce is not even doing as much as Matt Canavan has done. | “He chose not to, and now Barnaby Joyce is not even doing as much as Matt Canavan has done. |
| “So it’s become a comedy of errors. The public have a right to expect better from their politicians if we’ve broken rules, as outdated as the rules might be then, you know, we have to comply with those rules, and we have to wear the consequences.” | “So it’s become a comedy of errors. The public have a right to expect better from their politicians if we’ve broken rules, as outdated as the rules might be then, you know, we have to comply with those rules, and we have to wear the consequences.” |