Looks like it:
The government is at risk of an imminent blow to its control of the parliament as Liberal backbencher John Alexander considers whether to resign and face a snap by-election on December 16.
The Australian understands Mr Alexander, who holds Bennelong in Sydney’s north by a 9.8 per cent margin, is weighing up the option as he examines his potential status as a British citizen because his father was born in the United Kingdom.
Liberals said the decision to go to an immediate by-election would show voters that the former tennis champion was acting as swiftly as possible after asking the UK Home Office to check on his citizenship status.
However, there is also a strong argument within the government that Mr Alexander should put himself forward when parliament resumes on November 27 and be referred to the High Court along with other MPs, including some Labor MPs, to be considered as a group.
More:
Da Nang: Malcolm Turnbull has suggested one of his own MPs, John Alexander, should stand down immediately and refer himself to the High Court should he believe he is in breach of section 44(i) of the Constitution. Such a move would see the government relegated to a minority, at least temporarily.
Asked about unconfirmed reports that Mr Alexander has discovered he is a dual British citizen due to his father being British and is about to quit, Mr Turnbull said Mr Alexander and anyone else who finds themselves in such a situation should resign from Parliament and refer themselves to the Court.
“If you are satisfied that you are not constitutionally eligible to sit in the Parliament, you shouldn’t be sitting. That is fundamental,” he told reporters in Vietnam
Used to quite like him but since he put that ludicrous housing market solution a year ago I’ve found it hard to take him seriously.
Imagine the Do-nothing Government ruling from minority status. LMAO!
