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.
Members of the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890.
Parliamentary Education Office
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.
Lionel Murphy, far right, sits beside Gough Whitlam at a media conference.
The Australian
The release of the much-awaited papers from the parliamentary archives will lead to new appraisals of Lionel Murphy’s life and work – including his alleged misbehaviour.
At last count, seven Australian MPs have been found to be under a citizenship cloud, including deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (standing).
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Seven MPs are now under a cloud as to whether dual citizenship renders them ineligible to be elected to parliament.
It’d be better for ministers like Barnaby Joyce to have any potentially contentious decisions made by an acting minister until their citizenship issues are resolved.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
We are a secular nation, yet we acknowledge god in our Constitution. When it comes to religion, Australians tend to be pluralist and (relatively) tolerant.
Family First senator Bob Day, who has now resigned his Senate seat.
AAP/Sam Mooy
Changes to Senate voting laws and the particular case of Senator Bob Day make for an unprecedented constitutional tangle, and one that will change the make-up of the Senate.
In many important areas of Australia’s system of government, much is determined by unwritten rules – or what we call ‘constitutional conventions’.
Archives New Zealand
Australia’s Constitution sets the ground rules for its system of government. But many things one might expect to be in the Constitution are simply not there.
Australia’s current military involvement in the Middle East has not been properly scrutinised by parliament.
AAP/Australian Defence
Across the world, debates have emerged around the extent to which the legislative branch should be involved in – and even have the final say on – authorisation of military deployment.
Even if there were a constitutional ban on racial discrimination, racism would remain entrenched.
AAP Image/Dan Peled
Superficial changes are not enough. A violent foundation and the displacement of Aboriginal laws are the bigger issues on which the Australian Constitution should be held to account.
We need to determine if there is any point in maintaining the concept of ‘race’ in the Constitution.
AAP Image/NEWZULU/Wayne E Jansson
Will completing the Constitution without making any substantive changes satisfy Indigenous Australians or make any real difference to their lives? Ahead of the proposed referendum on Indigenous recognition, such questions are vital.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University