By Jeremy Sollars
UPDATE, 3.00PM: Federal LNP MPs have been gagged from commenting to the media on the High Court’s citizenship rulings today, Friday 27 October, which resulted in Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce being disqualified from parliament.
The Free Times sought comment from local Maranoa MP David Littleproud – who is a close political colleague and friend of Mr Joyce – but was told by his office none would be forthcoming.
The High Court ruling is a nightmare for the Turnbull Government which since the 2016 election has clung to office with a one-seat majority and is now technically a minority government.
A by-election in New England – which takes in Tenterfield Shire – will be held on Saturday 2 December.
Mr Joyce is tipped to win but is likely to face a concerted effort from former independent MP Tony Windsor who has been re-building his profile in recent times in anticipation of a by-election, should Mr Windsor decide to run.
The Free Times is seeking comment from Mr Windsor.
The Turnbull government had argued Mr Joyce was unaware he had inherited citizenship of another country – in his case New Zealand – and took steps to renounce it as soon as he realised, but the High Court has taken a different view, ruling his election at the 2016 federal election as invalid.
The court also ruled on other federal politicians caught up in the citizenship saga – Senator Matt Canavan has been cleared while One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has been deemed ineligible.
Nationals deputy leader Senator Fiona Nash and former Greens Senators Scott Ludlum and Larissa Walters – both of whom who had already resigned – were also deemed ineligible.
Crossbencher Senator Nick Xenophon was cleared by the court but he had already announced he would leave federal politics to run for the South Australian Parliament, regardless of the court’s decision.
All the court’s rulings were unanimous.
By-elections for individual senators cannot be held and generally the next highest-polling candidate at the last election takes their place if they leave office.
Mr Joyce spent today at events in the New England electorate at Armidale, Uralla, Walcha and Tamworth.
He told media at a conference soon after the High Court ruling was handed down that he would “make sure that I don’t cry in my beer,” on what he described as a “momentous day”.
Mr Joyce said he was “naturally cautious” and “always prepared for this outcome”.
“I don’t actually stand here totally surprised. I always expected that this was going to be a tough game,” he said today.
Mr Joyce holds New England by a ‘fairly safe’ margin of 8.5 per cent, having experienced a six per cent swing against him at the 2016 election.
Senator Nigel Scullion will replace Mr Joyce as temporary Parliamentary leader for The Nationals until the result of the by-election.
