Barnaby Joyce has resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and New England MP following the High Court decision that ruled he is illegible to sit in the parliament due to his New Zealand dual citizenship.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The electorate will now be forced into a by-election which will take place on December 2.
Mr Joyce has already indicated he will stand in the by-election, and is eligible to do so as he has formally renounced his dual citizenship.
The former deputy prime minister said he wasn’t surprised by the ruling on Friday afternoon saying he had a feeling.
“In my gut, I thought ‘this is the way it’s going to go.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held a press conference shortly after the High Court decision. He will be sworn in as agricultural minister and minister of water and resources, following Joyce’s disqualification from parliament.
"I know Barnaby will be disappointed with the court case results, its as though he's been let of the stalls and his enthusiasm is un-containable. He has a passion for representation," Mr Turnbull said.
Senator Mitch Fifield will take over former Senator Fiona Nash’s portfolio of regional communication and Senator Darren Chester will take on regional development.
Senator Matt Canavan will be returned to the resources portfolio.
Follow the live updates here
EARLIER: Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, along with six other politicians, will find out the future of their political careers.
The decision is expected to be handed down around 2.15pm.
Along with Mr Joyce, fellow Nationals MP Senator Matt Canavan, former Greens Senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters and One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts will also find out the outcome today.
Crossbencher Senator Nick Xenophon and Nationals Senator Fiona Nash will receive their decision in the coming weeks.
The dual citizenship scandal has developed since August this year. It has been revealed Mr Joyce has dual citizenship with New Zealand.
New England faces a by-election if the High-Court rules Mr Joyce is ineligible to sit in parliament due to his dual New Zealand citizenship which he has since renounced.
Mr Joyce faces opposition from multiple parties in the New England, including long time rival independent candidate Tony Windsor.
Want to get up-to-date on what’s going on?
See the previous coverage
- Barnaby Joyce says he’s no longer a Kiwi
- If an election was called tomorrow Barnaby Joyce would win
- Barnaby Joyce could face a field of candidates
- Labor Senator talks pub politics in New England
- Nationals shrug off downward swing in elections
- Another candidate for New England Region
- Barnaby Joyce engages legal eagles in Tamworth
Grace Ryan
Jamieson Murphy
Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@newcastleherald.com.au
Twice weekly
Voice of Real Australia
Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.
