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| Bill Shorten produces letter showing he renounced British citizenship | Bill Shorten produces letter showing he renounced British citizenship |
| (5 months later) | |
| Liberal backbencher Tony Abbott had earlier told the opposition leader to provide a letter or ‘shut up’ about citizenship | |
| Paul Karp and | |
| Christopher Knaus | |
| Mon 4 Sep 2017 08.58 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 4 Sep 2017 10.59 BST | |
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| Bill Shorten has tabled a letter in parliament proving he renounced his British citizenship in 2006, ending weeks of demands from the Turnbull government to do so. | Bill Shorten has tabled a letter in parliament proving he renounced his British citizenship in 2006, ending weeks of demands from the Turnbull government to do so. |
| On Monday the opposition leader told the lower house he accepted that if he wanted to be elected prime minister “there cannot be any doubt about my constitutional eligibility”. | On Monday the opposition leader told the lower house he accepted that if he wanted to be elected prime minister “there cannot be any doubt about my constitutional eligibility”. |
| In recent weeks the Turnbull government has deflected Labor’s attacks against the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, over his dual New Zealand citizenship by asking why Shorten refused to release documents proving he had renounced UK citizenship. | In recent weeks the Turnbull government has deflected Labor’s attacks against the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, over his dual New Zealand citizenship by asking why Shorten refused to release documents proving he had renounced UK citizenship. |
| Shorten’s decision to release the letter will give Labor a stronger foundation to renew those attacks. | Shorten’s decision to release the letter will give Labor a stronger foundation to renew those attacks. |
| Earlier on Monday the former prime minister Tony Abbott produced his own renunciation letter and demanded Shorten do likewise or “shut up”. | Earlier on Monday the former prime minister Tony Abbott produced his own renunciation letter and demanded Shorten do likewise or “shut up”. |
| In question time Labor continued to target Joyce over his eligibility, losing a motion to debate calling on him to stand down pending the high court case in October by just one vote. | In question time Labor continued to target Joyce over his eligibility, losing a motion to debate calling on him to stand down pending the high court case in October by just one vote. |
| After question time Shorten tabled the following document: | After question time Shorten tabled the following document: |
| Here is Bill Shorten's confirmation he renounced UK citizenship #auspol @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/Y9sINpz2QV | Here is Bill Shorten's confirmation he renounced UK citizenship #auspol @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/Y9sINpz2QV |
| Shorten said that questions about his eligibility were “pushed by the conspiracy theorists like the [prime minister] and the member for Warringah [Abbott]”. | Shorten said that questions about his eligibility were “pushed by the conspiracy theorists like the [prime minister] and the member for Warringah [Abbott]”. |
| “I offer this proof to the parliament today to put an end to baseless allegations, not reward them,” he said. “I strongly believe that MPs and senators should not be forced to produce evidence to counter claims that are made completely without evidence.” | “I offer this proof to the parliament today to put an end to baseless allegations, not reward them,” he said. “I strongly believe that MPs and senators should not be forced to produce evidence to counter claims that are made completely without evidence.” |
| While Shorten’s letter may lead to demands on other MPs and senators to prove their eligibility, the opposition leader attempted to limit the precedent by linking his decision to the fact he wanted to be prime minister. | While Shorten’s letter may lead to demands on other MPs and senators to prove their eligibility, the opposition leader attempted to limit the precedent by linking his decision to the fact he wanted to be prime minister. |
| Shorten said the production of his documents was a “chance to draw a line in the sand” and for all parties to stop calling on MPs and senators to prove their eligibility when there was no evidence they were ineligible. | Shorten said the production of his documents was a “chance to draw a line in the sand” and for all parties to stop calling on MPs and senators to prove their eligibility when there was no evidence they were ineligible. |
| He said abandoning the principle “that a person making an allegation must have some evidence sets a dangerous precedent”. | He said abandoning the principle “that a person making an allegation must have some evidence sets a dangerous precedent”. |
| “The PM and his colleagues knew the claim about me to be completely false but that is not their motive. Their tactic is clear. It is to do anything, no matter how desperate, to distract from the crisis of legitimacy shrouding [Barnaby Joyce].” | “The PM and his colleagues knew the claim about me to be completely false but that is not their motive. Their tactic is clear. It is to do anything, no matter how desperate, to distract from the crisis of legitimacy shrouding [Barnaby Joyce].” |
| After Shorten released his letter, the Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis produced a document confirming that from October 1986 the UK Home Office had “no trace” of her having acquired British citizenship as at 15 August 2017. | After Shorten released his letter, the Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis produced a document confirming that from October 1986 the UK Home Office had “no trace” of her having acquired British citizenship as at 15 August 2017. |
| As per my previous statement, I'm not and have never been a UK citizen. pic.twitter.com/DOC1QMJnYF | As per my previous statement, I'm not and have never been a UK citizen. pic.twitter.com/DOC1QMJnYF |
| Labor does not believe that Joyce can be allowed to serve as acting prime minister, which is due to happen when Malcolm Turnbull attends the Pacific Islands forum on Friday, while his eligibility is under a cloud. | Labor does not believe that Joyce can be allowed to serve as acting prime minister, which is due to happen when Malcolm Turnbull attends the Pacific Islands forum on Friday, while his eligibility is under a cloud. |
| The high court will hear seven eligibility cases in October: those into Joyce, the deputy Nationals leader, Fiona Nash, the Nationals senator Matt Canavan, the One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, senator Nick Xenophon and the former Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam. | The high court will hear seven eligibility cases in October: those into Joyce, the deputy Nationals leader, Fiona Nash, the Nationals senator Matt Canavan, the One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, senator Nick Xenophon and the former Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam. |
| Earlier on Monday the Senate formally agreed to refer Nash and Xenophon to the high court. Derryn Hinch and the Labor senator Katy Gallagher made statements to the Senate explaining why they would not refer themselves. | Earlier on Monday the Senate formally agreed to refer Nash and Xenophon to the high court. Derryn Hinch and the Labor senator Katy Gallagher made statements to the Senate explaining why they would not refer themselves. |
| Hinch said his legal advice was that possession of a US social security number did not raise an issue. Gallagher said she was not a citizen of Ecuador or the United Kingdom and outlined a process of checks and legal advice she had taken both before her nomination, and once new questions were raised about citizenship by descent. | Hinch said his legal advice was that possession of a US social security number did not raise an issue. Gallagher said she was not a citizen of Ecuador or the United Kingdom and outlined a process of checks and legal advice she had taken both before her nomination, and once new questions were raised about citizenship by descent. |
| After the referrals, the Senate rejected a motion from the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, to conduct an audit of the eligibility of all MPs and senators. | After the referrals, the Senate rejected a motion from the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, to conduct an audit of the eligibility of all MPs and senators. |
| The motion was supported by the Greens but defeated by Labor and the Coalition, who both argued an audit would reverse the onus of proof and require MPs and senators to prove their eligibility. | The motion was supported by the Greens but defeated by Labor and the Coalition, who both argued an audit would reverse the onus of proof and require MPs and senators to prove their eligibility. |
| Hanson, who fiercely resisted the referral of Roberts until it was inevitable, claimed the audit was necessary because the Australian people had “lost confidence in this parliament and politicians”. | Hanson, who fiercely resisted the referral of Roberts until it was inevitable, claimed the audit was necessary because the Australian people had “lost confidence in this parliament and politicians”. |
| On Monday Fairfax Media reported that the Liberal MP Stuart Robert may have held an indirect interest in the commonwealth, through his directorship of a company awarded government contracts between 2007 and 2010. | On Monday Fairfax Media reported that the Liberal MP Stuart Robert may have held an indirect interest in the commonwealth, through his directorship of a company awarded government contracts between 2007 and 2010. |
| Robert, who was in opposition at the time, was a director of the GMT Group Pty Ltd, between 2002 and 2010, records from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission confirm. | Robert, who was in opposition at the time, was a director of the GMT Group Pty Ltd, between 2002 and 2010, records from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission confirm. |
| He resigned his directorship a day before the August 2010 election. An amendment to his pecuniary interests on the same day removes entries listing Robert as a “director and shareholder” of multiple GMT companies. | He resigned his directorship a day before the August 2010 election. An amendment to his pecuniary interests on the same day removes entries listing Robert as a “director and shareholder” of multiple GMT companies. |
| Tender documents confirm GMT group companies were awarded contracts by a number of government departments between 2007 and 2010, including the Department of Human Services, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Department of Employment. | Tender documents confirm GMT group companies were awarded contracts by a number of government departments between 2007 and 2010, including the Department of Human Services, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Department of Employment. |
| The constitution prohibits politicians from having an “indirect pecuniary interest” in an agreement with the commonwealth. | The constitution prohibits politicians from having an “indirect pecuniary interest” in an agreement with the commonwealth. |
| In April the high court ruled that Family First’s Bob Day was ineligible to be a senator because he had an indirect interest in the lease of his Adelaide electorate office by the commonwealth. The case expanded the definition of what constitutes an indirect pecuniary interest, leading to warnings more politicians could be tripped up by the section. | In April the high court ruled that Family First’s Bob Day was ineligible to be a senator because he had an indirect interest in the lease of his Adelaide electorate office by the commonwealth. The case expanded the definition of what constitutes an indirect pecuniary interest, leading to warnings more politicians could be tripped up by the section. |
| Robert declined to comment to Guardian Australia but told Fairfax Media he had not breached the constitution. He said he had structured his corporate affairs so as not to breach the requirements of section 44. | Robert declined to comment to Guardian Australia but told Fairfax Media he had not breached the constitution. He said he had structured his corporate affairs so as not to breach the requirements of section 44. |
| “This is seven years ago, my affairs were well-structured when I entered parliament to avoid any issues and I don’t intend to expand on it,” he said. Fairfax Media said Robert would not provide detail on how his corporate affairs were structured or produce evidence in support of his argument. | “This is seven years ago, my affairs were well-structured when I entered parliament to avoid any issues and I don’t intend to expand on it,” he said. Fairfax Media said Robert would not provide detail on how his corporate affairs were structured or produce evidence in support of his argument. |
| Bill Shorten | |
| Australian politics | |
| Labor party | |
| Coalition | |
| Tony Abbott | |
| Australian citizenship | |
| news | |
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