Four more politicians who were kicked out of parliament by the High Court for holding dual citizenship will be allowed to keep their pay and entitlements, finance minister Mathias Cormann revealed on Friday afternoon.
The decision was expected after the government agreed to clear five earlier cases back in March, including the debts of former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
In each case, the High Court ruled the MPs and senators were not validly elected because they were in breach of Section 44 of the Constitution, raising questions as to whether the Finance department would chase their salaries.
The Friday afternoon decision wipes the debts of Labor’s David Feeney, Xenophon senator Skye Kokoschke-Moore, Tasmanian independent Jacqui Lambie and Liberal senator Stephen Parry.
Mr Cormann said the decision was reached after a review by “relevant departments”, including Finance and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.
“Based on the recommendation of the committee, I have agreed to waive the debts,” he said.
“These debts include salaries, superannuation and electorate allowances, as well as non-salary expenses, such as, staff expenses, office expenses and travel expenses.”
The process has almost cleared the backlog of Section 44 cases, but Labor’s Katy Gallagher – the last to be evicted by the High Court – is still awaiting a decision.
