After the High Court decision, what will happen to the Australian Parliament?

Mr Joyce's disqualification means the Coalition has lost its one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

Australian citizenship saga

Source: SBS

Former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will face a by-election on December 2 after being declared ineligible to sit in Parliament by the High Court.

Mr Joyce's was the biggest scalp claimed by the High Court when it delivered its judgements on the so-called Citizenship Seven on Friday.

One Nation's Malcolm Roberts, the Nationals' Fiona Nash, and former Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam, who had both already stood aside, were also ruled to be ineligible to sit in Parliament because they were dual nationals when they stood for election.

The court has ordered their seats be filled by a special recount of ballots.

Nationals senator Matthew Canavan can remain in Parliament after the court found he was validly elected.

The court also found Senator Nick Xenophon was safe to sit in the Upper House, although he has announced he will leave federal politics to pursue a return to South Australian politics.

Mr Joyce's disqualification means the Coalition has lost its one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

But independent crossbencher MP Cathy McGowan has already given a strong indication she wants stability, saying "things from my perspective stay exactly as they are".

The High Court had been deliberating on the fate of six senators and Mr Joyce, a citizen of New Zealand by virtue of his father being born across the Tasman, after it came to light they each held citizenship in countries other than Australia when they were elected.

Section 44 of the constitution bans dual citizens from being eligible for election.

Mr Joyce said he respected the court's verdict and apologised for the inconvenience the by-election would cause.

"That the High Court had a different view. I accept that and now we're into the campaign," Mr Joyce told the Nine Network.

Who's likely to replace the ousted senators?

  • Larissa Waters: Next on the Greens' Queensland ticket is Andrew Bartlett
  • Scott Ludlam: Next on the Greens' WA ticket is Jordan Steele-John, a young activist who has cerebral palsy
  • Malcolm Roberts: Next on One Nation's Queensland ticket is Fraser Anning, who is no longer facing bankruptcy legal action
  • Fiona Nash: Next on the Coalition's Senate ticket in NSW is Hollie Hughes, who is a Liberal. That would mean a change in the Coalition balance
 The Prime Minister has delayed his planned trip to Israel this weekend in the wake of the court decisions, but will still attend commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.




Share

3 min read

Published

By Madhura Seneviratne




Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS Sinhala

Download our apps
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
Independent news and stories connecting you to life in Australia and Sinhala-speaking Australians.
Ease into the English language and Australian culture. We make learning English convenient, fun and practical.
Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service