The right to rent scheme has been found by the high court to breach human rights. What’s more, it doesn’t work, and can prevent society’s most vulnerable from finding a home.
We need a new legal definition of ‘parent’ to reflect the diversity of Australian families.
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Who is a child’s legal parent? The question is at the heart of a case due before the High Court this year. It may have implications for children born via IVF or surrogacy, and the people who raise them.
The final day of parliament was just like the other sitting days of 2018: chaotic.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
In the final sitting week for the year, the encryption bill was finally passed, and the Liberal Party changed its rules to prevent sitting prime ministers being toppled.
The Timber Creek claim is being seen as a test case for future Indigenous land rights compensation claims.
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The decision will have huge implications for Indigenous peoples who have lost their land rights and for state and territory governments that may be liable for compensation.
There is enough in the Dutton case to raise questions about whether disqualification has occurred.
AAP/Lukas Coch
It is possible the home affairs minister is in breach of Section 44(v) of the Constitution – and if the High Court were to find him so, it would cause yet another headache for the government.
Might there be yet another way in which parliamentarians can unwittingly fall foul of dual citizenship laws?
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Just when we thought the dual citizenship debacle was coming to an end, there may be another sting in our Constitution’s tail.
Senator Katy Gallagher knew she was a British citizen at the last election, but maintains she took “all reasonable steps” to renounce it.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Today’s High Court decision on whether Labor Senator Katy Gallagher is eligible to hold her seat will have significant implications for the whole parliament.
The Department of Human Services approach to social security fraud prosecutions has become less punitive in recent years.
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That it has taken more than five months and a compulsory declaration procedure for some MPs’ dual citizenship issues to come to light reflects extremely badly on them.
Katy Gallagher says she will not refer herself to the court because her legal advice was that she had taken all the steps required of her before she nominated.
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Michelle Grattan and Nick Klomp discuss the week in politics.
Jacqui Lambie bids a tearful farewell in the Senate this week, after becoming the latest politician caught up in the dual citizenship saga.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The Turnbull government is trying to limit the damage from the citizenship crisis with a plan to have all MPs make declarations about their circumstances.
Bill Shorten has said Labor would support a ‘universal disclosure to the parliament’ on citizenship.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Labor has been on a unity ticket with the Coalition in opposing an audit, but as the crisis continues to unfold it has moved to a position that falls short of bringing in an outside auditor.