Labor's Dutton court check push defeated

Labor has narrowly lost a bid to to refer Peter Dutton's eligibility to sit in parliament to the High Court.

Labor has unsuccessfully moved a motion to refer Liberal leadership aspirant Peter Dutton's eligibility to sit in parliament to the High Court.

Mr Dutton is facing questions about his eligibility over his links to child care centres in Queensland that received public money through a trust linked to him and his family.

Labor MP Tony Burke moved the motion in the lower house on Thursday - which was lost 68-69 - to refer the matter to the Court of Disputed Returns, which if proven could have led to Mr Dutton being disqualified from parliament.