Greens get Dismissal dementia, goad GG to dissolve parliament over citizenship crisis
The citizenship saga is ruining Malcolm Turnbull’s life. The Prime Minister in Hong Kong, yesterday:
Look, (Liberal MP) John Alexander has done the right thing. I spoke to him last night and he told me that he was no longer sufficiently satisfied or no longer sure that he was not a UK citizen.
This statement no longer applies. Turnbull in Jerusalem, October 31:
I have never had more fun in my life.
Luckily, Richard Di Natale has an idea that’ll cheer up Malcolm. The Greens leader in Canberra, Friday:
We know the governor-general, when it comes to a constitutional crisis, has played a role and there’s a very famous example of that.
An example? Do tell, Richard. Paul Kelly in The Australian, November 12, 1975:
The nation faces elections for both Houses of Federal Parliament ... after the 21st Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was dismissed yesterday by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr.
The Greens looking to the Crown for leadership. What a world. A statement from Di Natale on the Greens website, January 25 last year:
A confident Australia does not need to wait for the Queen to depart before we finally embrace a republic.
Didn’t really work out so well, did it? The Australian’s Troy Bramston responds to the Greens leader on Twitter, yesterday:
This is grossly irresponsible, reckless and dangerous, and shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the constitution and the Governor-General’s role.
Our editor-at-large reckons we should avoid the “unelected Governor-General kicks out elected Prime Minister” route. Kelly in The Weekend Australian, Saturday:
Only Turnbull can advise a general election to the Governor-General ... This is chaotic. Yes, it is a political crisis, but it is not a constitutional crisis. There is no role for Greens leader Richard Di Natale or any party leader to trot off to Yarralumla.
Although it would be funny to hear that old republican, Turnbull, repeat those infamous words ... Gough Whitlam on the steps of Old Parliament House, November 11, 1995:
Well may we say God Save the Queen because nothing will save the Governor-General.
The Sunday Age covered the citizenship saga with a handy guide to all the MPs who’ve been booted out. Yesterday:
Scott Ludlam — Was: senator, cabinet minister and deputy Nationals senator.
That man is certainly not a National. Scott Ludlam on Twitter, yesterday:
hello @theage what
Just had to check Ludlam’s profile on The Greens’ official website:
Scott Ludlam is the former co-deputy leader of the Australian Greens …
And finally, your daily reminder we’re all going to die. US President Donald Trump on Twitter, yesterday:
Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old,” when I would NEVER call him “short and fat?” Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend — and maybe someday that will happen!
Hug your loved ones. News.com.au, yesterday:
A former commander of US forces on the Korean Peninsula has warned Kim Jong-un’s army is simply too big to beat.