This won’t cheer anyone up:
The ALP’s national executive is meeting on Friday to consider launching a High Court action under section 44(v) of the constitution, Fairfax Media can reveal.
It’s understood the challenge would be against Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie, who may have an indirect financial interest in the Commonwealth – grounds for disqualification from office.
As revealed by Fairfax Media in February, the Nationals MP owns a small suburban shopping complex in Port Macquarie and one of the shops is an outlet of Australia Post – a government-owned corporation.
If Dr Gillespie was disqualified – under circumstances similar to those that brought down former Family First senator Bob Day – it would spark a byelection in his seat of Lyne, potentially bringing down the government.
While the Nationals would be well-placed to retain the seat, it would be an enormous political headache for the Coalition.
