Barnaby Joyce Has Referred Himself To The High Court Because He Might Be A Kiwi

UPDATE: It would appear that Barnaby Joyce is definitely, certainly, 100% a New Zealand citizen. He’ll go to the High Court, and he may get booted out of Parliament after that.

PM English says "unwittingly or not" Barnaby is a New Zealand citizen. What happens because of that is an issue of Aust law. @SkyNewsAust

— James O'Doherty (@jmodoh) August 14, 2017

Earlier: Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has referred himself to the High Court after receiving advice that he might actually be a New Zealand citizen, and therefore ineligible to serve in parliament.

Joyce is now the fifth federal politician whose citizenship will be assessed by the High Court. Last week the Senate voted to refer Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, former Coalition minister Matt Canavan, and One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts to the High Court to determine their eligibility for parliament.

Joyce told parliament today that he had received legal advice suggesting he is eligible to serve in parliament and as a result would not be standing down as Deputy Prime Minister.

While Joyce was born in Tamworth to an Australian mother, his father was born in New Zealand. An extensive investigation by Fairfax Media suggests that Joyce potentially inherited New Zealand citizenship through his father.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has now written to Bill Shorten offering “the opportunity to nominate any Labor members or senators whose circumstances may raise questions under Section 44 of the Constitution so that the parliament can also refer these matters to the High Court for its consideration”. Shorten is yet to respond.