The Turnbull Government has lost its one-seat majority after the High Court ruled Barnaby Joyce’s election invalid because of his New Zealand citizenship.
Mr Joyce will now face a by-election. The court also found former Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters were not validly elected, along with One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts and the National Party’s Fiona Nash.
Here’s what you need to know:
Barnaby Joyce has been ruled ineligible and faces a by-election in New England
The Government is now without a one-seat majority
Fiona Nash, Malcolm Roberts, Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters have also been ruled ineligible
Nick Xenophon and Matt Canavan are safe, but Xenophon is leaving federal politics anyway.
Readers may recall this all started in the buildup to the New Zealand general elections, and caused an uproar with Australian Foreign Relations Minister Julie Bishop holding a press conference accusing the New Zealand labour Party of meddling in Australian politics, with Bishop stating that Australia would, as a result, find it “very hard” to work with a Labour Government should Ardern become Prime Minister. Now, of course, thanks to the wonders of the Mixed Member Proportional system and Winston Peters, Jacinda Ardern is indeed now New Zealand Prime Minister. An almost simultaneously, the Australian High Court makes this ruling on Australian Vice Premiere Joyce’s eligibility that has thrown Australian politics into chaos, with the Turnbull Government now losing it’s majority. Considering Australia’s current government is Democratic Independent Union (“Blue”) in global opposition to NZ’s Progressive Alliance (“red”) Labour party, one wonders what manipulations are taking place behind the Wizard’s curtain A By-Election is in the works now. Question is, was this whole expose of Joyce’s citizenship and eligibility a deliberate act of political sabotage designed to facilitate an alignment of Progressive Alliance/Labour led governments Australasia-wide?
It will be interesting to see how this plays out!
Martin H
Related:
Blue Vs. Red: NZ Opposition Accused Of Trying To “Bring Down” Australian Government!
Australia threatens NZ Labour Party over citizenship scandal
