Via the AFR:
Liberal MPs despairing at the mounting crises plaguing the government are starting to question the political judgment of the Prime Minister’s office and whether the Coalition can win the next election.
As the government limped through another parliamentary sitting day hamstrung by Barnaby Joyce’s dual citizenship debacle, MPs said the only positive aspect was that it had removed from the front pages another bad news story for the government – the same-sex marriage split.
“Looking chaotic and disorganised doesn’t bode well for morale,” said one MP in a view that typified that of several who spoke to The Australian Financial Review.
“You just feel so flat, you wonder what’s next.”
Another Liberal said “we’re just waiting for Thursday”, when Parliament rises for a fortnight.
The MPs are not only upset with Mr Joyce’s dilemma which could see him disqualified from Parliament and the government’s majority put at risk, but the subsequent tactical decision to accuse Labor of conspiring with New Zealand Labour to expose Mr Joyce’s dual citizenship in a bid to topple the government.
Starting to question? Cripes. You’re dead folks walking. Here’s what Baaaarnaby said when the Greens resigned:
JOYCE: I don’t think for either Scott Ludlam or Larissa Waters there was anything malicious about it. I think merely an oversight, but unfortunately that’s the law. It’s like if you’re driving on the road without a licence and you get pulled over. Well, you’re in a spot of bother. They were members of parliament. It’s quite clear under Section 44, you can’t be a member of parliament and have dual citizenship. It’s black and white. The outcome is black and white. That’s just, that’s just the way it is.
KARVELAS: Does the law set the bar too high? Is it time to have a look at Section 44 of the Constitution?
JOYCE: Nah, I don’t think it is. I think you just have got to do your homework and make sure you’re not a citizen of two countries when you stand for parliament. That’s basically it. Larissa said she believed that was not the case and I am sure that would be the outcome for Scott Ludlam. But unfortunately ignorance is not an excuse, you’re in strife and as I said, there’s nothing malicious about it, being sneaky, but they were outside what Section 44 explicitly says. The reason it says that, is that you can only have one master, Australia. If you’re going to serve in the Australian parliament, Australia is your master.
And there’s more:
The dual citizen spotlight has fallen on a third Turnbull government minister, who may have inherited British citizenship from his father.
Experts believe Justice Minister Michael Keenan is a “citizen by descent” of United Kingdom, unless he or or his father went through the formal renunciation process.
And more:
Labor is planning a dramatic counter-attack against Coalition MPs if the Turnbull government “goes nuclear” and starts unilaterally referring opposition MPs to the High Court over citizenship doubts.
Fairfax Media understands the ALP has a hit list of eight Coalition MPs – in the Senate and the House of Representatives – that it believes still have unanswered questions about possible dual citizenship.
Finally from Domainfax:
The government’s defence of Barnaby Joyce has been a farrago of distraction designed to set up and then demolish claims that he was not a dinky-di Aussie and to create the impression he’s the victim of a shady trans-national conspiracy.
The facts are more prosaic. Joyce didn’t do his paperwork when nominating for the Senate way back in 2004 nor at any election since. Did not comply with a constitutional requirement to be a sole citizen. Diligence was due. It was not forthcoming.
When you’re made of spin then the only thing you’re capable of is spin. Even when it is so transparent that is only does you more harm.
The answer is more substance but you just can’t make that up.
