We’ll get a clearer indication of Bill Shorten’s strategy when he delivers his budget reply on Thursday night. His speech has taken on extra significance now.
The dual citizenship crisis claimed five more scalps today: Katy Gallagher, Susan Lamb, Rebekha Sharkie, Justine Keay and Josh Wilson.
Emil Jeyaratnam/The Conversation using AAP images
Today’s High Court decision against Katy Gallagher has clarified how to interpret the constitution on this matter. But the problem of dual citizenship can only be properly fixed by a referendum.
Gallagher was ineligible to sit because she had not completed the renunciation of her dual British citizenship when she nominated for the 2016 election.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The decision has reignited the citizenship crisis and transformed the political landscape.
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.
Mathias Cormann congratulates new Senate arrival Amanda Stoker, who replaces George Brandis.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
The now-infamous section 44 of the Australian Constitution was a last-minute change by the authors, drafted in private and accepted out of weariness.
Bill Shorten on Sunday announced a Labor government would freeze health premium increases to 2% in each of its first two years in office.
David Crosling/AAP
As the fallout from the dual citizenship saga continues, the Greens and Labor are set to fight a close contest in Batman, while Nick Xenophon has work to do ahead of the South Australian election.
David Feeney confirmed he still could not produce the paperwork to demonstrate he had renounced his British citizenship.
David Crosling/AAP
Michael Courts, The Conversation e Amanda Dunn, The Conversation
2017 has felt like a chaotic year in Australian politics, and one in which policy progress has been swamped by other distractions. We can only hope that 2018 is calmer and more productive.
Despite the setbacks, Bill Shorten is still very well-placed compared with Malcolm Turnbull.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
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.
Last year David Feeney beat Greens candidate Alex Bhathal for the Victorian seat of Batman by a whisker.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
If David Feeney was found to be ineligible, Labor would be at high risk of losing his Melbourne seat of Batman to the Greens.
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.
Mick Tsikas/AAP