Q&A: Bill Shorten compares citizenship accusations to Obama birther conspiracy

Bill Shorten likens the pressure on him to release citizenship documents to claims about the former US President | WATCH

Bill Shorten has again refused to release documents to prove he is not a dual citizen, likening his situation to former US President Barack Obama being forced to produce his birth certificate to prove he was a natural-born citizen.

“Just because a Liberal makes an accusation doesn’t mean the rest of us have to start searching through the filing cabinets,” the Opposition Leader told a special one-guest episode of ABC TV’s Q&A.

“In America we’ve seen what happens when you have fake news. They keep making allegations after allegations. Barack Obama had to produce his birth certificate and then they said it was a fake. Some people are never going to be satisfied … If we live in a nation where conservative interests can simply just repeat an allegation with no substance and you reverse the onus of proof that somehow you’ve got to contort yourself, that’s not the way it works.”

Mr Shorten has been forced to respond to claims he could be a dual-citizen, which he has since dismissed, asserting he renounced his British citizenship “years ago” but has refused to provide documentation.

He received British citizenship by descent through his father, William Robert Shorten, who emigrated from Newcastle upon Tyne to Australia before the Labor leader was born.

The foreign citizenship debacle has already embroiled two Greens senators, three cabinet ministers and independent senator Nick Xenophon.

The Australian was told Mr Shorten renounced his British citizenship in May 2006, before nomin­ating for the 2007 election, but he said he felt no obligation to produce the paperwork because he “knew it to be true”.

He told Monday night’s Q&A: “I know what I am. We have a screening process. I’ve been clear four times.”

“That’s a no? You’re not going to release the documents?” asked host Tony Jones.

“What is the case to release it?” replied Mr Shorten.

“I’m just asking you,” said Jones.

Mr Shorten, however, indicated he would be open to working with the government to reform the dual citizenship section of the Constitution.

“If the government wanted to talk about amending the law to avoid some of the farce we’ve seen, we’re up for a constructive conversation on that … I think we could work with the government to come up with something to help resolve it.”

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Concerns that musicians or bakers who support the traditional definition of marriage could be forced to work at the weddings of same-sex couples are “highly exaggerated”, said the Labor leader, and anti-discrimination laws will cover workers who face these issues.

A musician who makes his living performing at weddings told the Opposition leader on Monday night’s Q&A episode he had a “very deeply rooted belief that marriage is between a man and a woman by nature and definition” and was therefore worried he would be forced to play at same-sex weddings.

“Whilst I get there’s been some cases overseas, I think the debate about bakers not baking cakes or others withdrawing services is highly exaggerated,” Mr Shorten told the audience.

“I’m not saying it can never happen but I’ll start from the real world. My experience, or what I imagine will be the case, is if someone didn’t want to bake a cake at your wedding you probably wouldn’t ask them to. If someone doesn’t want to sing at your wedding you’re probably not going to ask them to.

“In terms of forcing people against their will, we currently have anti-discrimination laws. You can’t provide a service because you disagree with someone’s sexuality. We will have religious freedom in this country. It’s a core value. Commercial services are governed by anti-discrimination laws.”

What would you say to the PM & the govt about respectful debate around marriage equality? @billshortenmp says sorry & this will pass #QandA pic.twitter.com/SunX9c4OSt

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) August 21, 2017

In a wideranging episode of the program, Mr Shorten answered several questions about the postal vote on same-sex marriage, slamming the plebiscite as the chosen mechanism for change but urging people to vote Yes.

He said Australia is currently in the “last thrashings around of an outmoded view” as the country debates whether to change the definition of marriage.

“We’ll have marriage equality in Australia … this survey will be overwhelming,” the Opposition Leader said.

He said the LGBTI community was at risk of being at the end of hurtful abuse during the debate, but acknowledged: “Some people say they can get denigrated in the Christians faiths. That can happen too.”

Why are you so determined to deny me my right to say ‘No’ to SSM? @billshortenmp says you have your say at the election #QandA pic.twitter.com/mM2C8voA6q

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) August 21, 2017

PAULINE HANSON

The Opposition leader stopped short of labelling Pauline Hanson’s recent stunt — where the One Nation leader wore a burka into the Senate — as racism, instead opting to describe the highly publicised move as a “dumb distraction”.

He urged Australians to ignore the “stupid” behaviour.

“I thought what Senator Hanson did was such a dumb distraction. It was frustrating. But the question is what’s the best way to handle it? I have to say that I suspect Senator Hanson wants us all to be talking about her. She wants this attention,” he said.

“She might be tweeting now dreadful things about me or you, but she craves this attention. I thought it was a dumb distraction. All I say about people who want to say dumb things at the margins, is how much attention do you give them? I can promise you that my party will preference One Nation and like-minded parties last. That’s the best way you deal with it, at the ballot box. I won’t give them a lot more oxygen other than repudiating it. That’s a sensible way to handle it.”

But Jones pressed the panellist, asking him whether he would describe her actions as racist.

“I thought it was stupid …. I thought that was dumb and disrespectful to a religion.”

“But not racism?” asked Jones.

“What do you call it when you’re disrespectful to a religion? Would you call it racist?”

“I’m asking you the question.”

“We have no time for it. If it’s about security, France banned the burqa in 2011. It didn’t stop the tragedy. So our security agents tell us time and time again, if people think that she’s just saying what everyone thinks and good on her, if that’s what you think, I’ve got to tell you the security agencies make perfectly clear all of the time that if you wants to force people to the margins — want to force people to the margins, keep attacking them and ridiculing some of their customs.”

In the latest Newspoll, released on Monday, One Nation party increased its primary vote from 8 per cent to 9 per cent during the past two weeks, showing no damage to Hanson’s party from what her critics called an offensive stunt.

NORTH KOREA

Malcolm Turnbull has entered a risky “war of words” with North Korea, said Mr Shorten, after it emerged this afternoon that North Korea warned Australia was committing a “suicidal act” by invoking the ANZUS treaty.

The North Korean newswire KCNA said the Australian Defence Force’s involvement in war games involving the US in South Korea was a dangerous move.

“This is a suicidal act of inviting disaster as it is an illustration of political immaturity unaware of the seriousness of the current situation,” a spokesman said.

Mr Shorten said he believed Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had made better diplomatic choices than the Prime Minister.

“We have an ANZUS alliance but I think Julie Bishop’s words were better chosen ... A war of words I’m not convinced is the best way to go. If I was your PM I’d probably start with a more considered approach than sort of amping up the rhetoric.”

Would you support the US in taking military action against North Korea if provoked? @billshortenmp will consult according to ANZUS #QandA pic.twitter.com/v3nYVDAkBa

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) August 21, 2017