Australian Politics live: Jacqui Lambie quits Senate over dual citizenship
Jacqui Lambie has made an emotional resignation speech to the Senate, refusing to blame her father.
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live coverage of the happenings in Parliament House. The citizenship crisis continues to create chaos in Canberra, with the government pressuring Labor over potential ineligible MPs.
• Top story: Jacqui Lambie will quit parliament after confirming she is a dual citizen
• Lambie’s exit is a loss for the parliament, Caroline Overington writes
• Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally will contest Bennelong for Labor
• Keneally is a star candidate with barnacles, Andrew Clenell writes
Greg Brown 3.21pm: Fifield on citizenship discussions with former Senate president
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says he probably discussed the “citizenship seven” High Court case with former Senate president Stephen Parry when they spoke more than a month ago about his citizenship concerns.
In the final question in Senate QT, Labor senate leader Penny Wong asked if the High Court proceedings were discussed in their conversation which was not conveyed to the Prime Minister or the parliament. Mr Parry made his concerns public three weeks after their discussion.
Senator Fifield said they discussed the proceedings but he denied advising Mr Parry to wait until the High Court’s decision before he made his citizenship concerns public.
“I am sure that the fact they were occurring is something that was known to both of us and I am sure that was something that was mentioned at some point during conversations, it was a well known fact,” Senator Fifield said.
He also said “he was sure” they spoke about the situation of former Nationals senator Fiona Nash, who was in a similar predicament to Mr Parry as both had a father who was born in Britain.
Greg Brown 2.54pm: Turnbull’s leadership questioned
Labor’s Lisa Singh asks Brandis if he is part of the reportedly “informal discussions” to replace Malcolm Turnbull as leader.
Brandis says he has not seen those reports. He sells the government’s achievements and savages Labor for only caring about politics.
Singh follows up by asking if Brandis will vote for Peter Dutton or Julie Bishop in a leadership contest “before your much flagged” move to London.
Brandis says: “you have run out of serious things to say, you are a joke.”
He also claims senator Eric Abetz is “very supportive” of Turnbull as Prime Minister.
Greg Brown 2.40pm: Countdown to SSM vote announcement
Crossbench Senator Derryn Hinch asks whether the government will support the Dean Smith or James Paterson bill to legalise same-sex marriage if the Yes vote succeeds.
Hinch says Smith’s bill has religious protections where as Paterson’s would “take us back to the dark ages by legalising homophobic discrimination”.
Brandis talks about what a “success” the postal survey has been before saying the private-members bill would be a matter for the parliament.
Greg Brown 2.29pm: Cash not ‘in hiding’
Labor’s Doug Cameron asks why Employment Minister Michaelia Cash “was in hiding” in saying she was not available to appear before an employment senate committee until December 8th, despite allegations she misled the Senate over the AWU raids.
She said it was the decision of the committee to hold its next estimates hearing on December 8th.
Cameron says Labor and Greens senators had been prepared to meet on Saturdays before then but she was never available.
Greg Brown 2.22pm: Filipino military personal complete training
Defence Minister Marise Payne tells the Senate the first 250 Filipino military personal have completed training from the Australian Defence Force to help fight the incursion of Daesh. They completed the training on Saturday.
Greg Brown 2.20pm: Section 44 referendum on the cards?
Greens leader Richard Di Natale asks if the government would push to amend section 44 of the Constitution.
Brandis says Di Natale is right about the unforeseen consequences about section 44 and a referendum should be considered.
He says the section in its current form was “not appropriate in a multicultural democracy” and any changes would be considered by a parliamentary committee.
“You make a very good point about the consequences of section 44 as now interpreted by the High Court in a multicultural democracy,” Brandis says.
Labor senator Don Farrell asks Senate Leader George Brandis how he can say Stephen Parry didn’t tell “various ministers” about his citizenship concerns when he was quoted saying he did.
Senator Brandis says he spoke to Mr Parry yesterday, who claims he was misquoted in the article.
Brandis maintains he only found out about Senator Parry’s concerns the day before they were made public.
Senator Kim Carr yells: “You knew for weeks”.
Greg Brown 2.05pm: Wong opens
Labor senate leader Penny Wong starts Senate Question Time by grilling Communications Minister Mitch Fifield about his alleged concealment of Stephen Parry’s dual citizenship.
Fifield says he never encouraged Parry to stay quiet.
1.10pm: ‘He has been my strongest supporter’
Jacqui Lambie has paid tribute to her father as she tearfully announced her resignation from the Senate after discovering her UK citizenship by descent, AAP reports.
The Tasmanian senator asked the British Home Office for clarification of her status after Senate President Stephen Parry quit over citizenship doubts. After the confirmation came back on Tuesday morning, Senator Lambie phoned her father - who arrived in Australia from Scotland as a child - to tell him and hours later made her announcement in a six-minute speech to parliament. “It is with great regret that I have to inform you that I had been found ineligible by way of dual citizenship,” Senator Lambie said. “I love my father to death and hope to not blame him for this. He has done nothing for which to apologise and he has been my strongest supporter, my loudest cheer squad and my closest adviser.”
Senator Lambie said she had worked hard to be voice for veterans, people on welfare and pensioners.
She did not know what her next step would be but in the short term she would be helping her Jacqui Lambie Network win seats in the Tasmanian state election. The outgoing crossbencher warned the Turnbull government against using her absence as an “opportunity” to pass legislation which she opposed. “To do so would be a mistake,” she said.
Her replacement is expected to be the next Jacqui Lambie Network candidate on the 2016 ticket, Devonport mayor Steve Martin.
However, Mr Martin’s position as mayor could render him ineligible under section 44 of the constitution disqualifying anyone with an “office of profit under the crown”.
It’s been speculated Senator Lambie may run for the Tasmanian federal seat of Braddon if Labor MP Justine Keay is forced to a by-election due to her citizenship problems.
She earlier told ABC radio she would have a “good look at it”. Senator Lambie entered parliament after the 2013 election representing Clive Palmer’s now defunct party before quitting to sit as an independent the following year.
She said the decision was the right one.
“That’s really worked in my favour - there’s no way that if I was still running under that banner ... I’d be finished today,” she said.
She ran under her own team banner - The Jacqui Lambie Network - successfully at last year’s double-dissolution election to return to Canberra.
An emotional farewell from Pat Dodson to Jacqui Lambie: It's an absolute tragedy the Constitution was written by white folks #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 14, 2017
12.35pm: Tearful Lambie addresses the Senate
Independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has announced her resignation from parliament during an emotional speech to the upper house.
Quite the procession of hugs for Jacqui Lambie, might take as long as her speech. Senate has stopped to allow the good wishes #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 14, 2017
Big bear hug for both Greens Tassie senators Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson #auspol #citizenship8
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 14, 2017
Brandis says the Senate “has been the richer†for having Lambie. “We have all benefited from your company.†Praises her passion #auspol
— Greg Brown (@gregbrown_TheOz) November 14, 2017
Greg Brown 12.30pm: No waiting on SSM bill
Bill Shorten has promised Labor will be pushing to pass the Dean Smith bill to legalise same-sex marriage “as soon as the result is known” as he vowed to stare down conservatives who were pushing for an alternative bill to change the Marriage Act if the Yes vote prevails in the postal survey.
The Opposition Leader offered Malcolm Turnbull his cooperation to pass same-sex marriage as soon as possible after the result is released tomorrow morning.
“I promise Australians that we l as soon as the result is known, be pushing for the Smith bill. If there’s minor matters people need to make to clarify, that’s one thing,” Mr Shorten said.
“I promise Australians concerned about religious liberty, I get that argument. I respect it. But we cannot slow down marriage equality and use the delaying tactics being proposed by the conservatives.
“And I want to offer Malcolm Turnbull this offer of cooperation for when he returns from overseas. I will work with you, Malcolm, to make marriage equality a reality as soon as possible and together we will give the numbers, along with those in the government who support it, to stare down the conservatives seeking to delay marriage equality.”
Greg Brown 12.15pm: Lambie exit ‘a tragedy’
Bill Shorten says it was a “real tragedy” Jacqui Lambie had to leave the Senate.
“I think it’s a tough day for her. Jacqui wears her heart on her sleeve. I like her. We’ve worked well. She hasn’t always voted with me on every issue but I like her,” Mr Shorten said.
“I just want to say I think it’s a real tragedy that she’s had to step down. I certainly think it’s sad and my thoughts are with her because she’s certainly worked very hard.”
Primrose Riordan 11.50am: Turnbull’s suite time
More details have emerged of the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull last night.
It took place in the President’s private suite and lasted for at least half an hour.
Mr Turnbull also met with General H. R. McMaster for over half an hour.
11.20am: ‘Rogue’ senator wooed
The One Nation senator sensationally cut loose from the party an hour after being sworn-in to parliament may not be a “lone ranger” for long, AAP reports.
Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm has discussed the prospect of Fraser Anning, an independent for now, joining his party in the upper house. “He hasn’t joined the Liberal Democrats or the Australian Conservatives, but his inclination is to do so,” Senator Leyonhjelm told reporters in Canberra today.
“[Anning] realises that being a lone ranger in the parliament is not as effective as having a relationship with other senators so he is considering his options at the moment.” Senator Anning entered the upper house chamber yesterday flanked by Senator Leyonhjelm and Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi after splitting with One Nation in disputed circumstances.
Senator Anning claims he was booted from the party, whereas party leader Pauline Hanson said he quit.
“There’s been a building state of discontent between Fraser Anning and Pauline Hanson and her adviser James Ashby for about three weeks,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
Senator Leyonhjelm claims Pauline Hanson asked Senator Anning to step aside in favour of disqualified senator Malcolm Roberts returning to parliament. “He was very reluctant to do that and things became acrimonious and you saw the end result yesterday,” the senator said.
“It does look like Fraser has parted irretrievably from One Nation.” Senator Leyonhjelm has hired Richard Howard, a former Roberts staffer, who has been in “constant communication” with the new senator during the past few weeks.
Primrose Riordan 11am: Trump, Turnbull lowdown
A dinner between US President Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull was cancelled and the two instead met privately early yesterday evening.
Early on Monday the plan had been for the two leaders to have a bilateral meeting in the morning, but they eventually met during a trilateral which also included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Reporters were then told Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump would dine together on Monday night.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders then told a US reporter the meeting been changed to a “short closed press private meeting”.
She reportedly said this about because the two leaders were able to meet earlier today.
The Australian confirmed they met around 6pm Manila time yesterday.
The two leaders have met a few times since the testy phone call over the US-Australia refugee deal.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump chatted at the G20 meeting in Hamburg in July. After a few hours delay due to Mr Trump’s domestic political schedule, they also met earlier in the year in May onboard the USS Intrepid, a museum on the Hudson River, before gala dinner commemorating the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Coral Sea.
Greg Brown 10.50am: Divorce ‘teachings protected’
Attorney-General George Brandis points out that the Catholic Church’s teaching on divorce is an example of existing religious protections. Full story here
Greg Brown 10am: Lambie vows to return
Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie says she may run for the Tasmanian lower house seat of Braddon if Labor MP Justine Keay is found ineligible after revealing she will quit parliament because she is a British citizen.
The maverick senator, who entered parliament in 2013 under the Palmer United Party before breaking off and creating her own party, said this morning she would consider a tilt for the seat in the House of Representatives in an emotional interview on Tasmanian radio station LAFM.
“I would certainly have a good look at it, I would just have to see what else is going on because it is all over the shop right now,” Senator Lambie said.
“Those guys don’t have to have their paper work here until December 1st, you can see them pushing it out, that means nothing is going to get done until after Christmas, the High Court doesn’t come back until February I believe.
“It ain’t going to happen tomorrow, so in the meantime the first thing I am going to do is renounce my citizenship so I am clear to go.”
Senator Lambie will be replaced by Devonport Mayor Steve Martin, who will not stand aside for the outgoing senator to renter the upper house.
“I would never do that to Steven ... that spot is his,” Ms Lambie said.
The Australian obtained records last week showing her father had arrived in Australia from Scotland as a child on the RMS Ormonde passenger liner in 1952. Senator Lambie initially argued she was still confident she was a sole Australian citizen but did not produce any documents to support her claim.
While fighting off tears in her interview this morning, Senator Lambie said she was always aware her father born in Scotland but believed he was only an Australian citizen by the time she was born.
“When Stephen Parry came out and mentioned a boat and a date, I’m doing my autobiography, I’ve gone back over dad’s stuff and straight away I just thought ‘oh my God’,” Senator Lambie said.
“I was on the phone to dad, I’m going ‘please what is going on’.
“It unravelled within about two or three days and by Thursday last week I just rang him and I said, ‘Dad, I’m gone aren’t I’? And he said ‘sweetheart, I think we are gone’.”
She said she was confident complied with section 44 of the Constitution when she nominated for parliament while adding: “we are not a family of lawyers”.
She promised her supporters she would be back on the political scene.
“I am going to say what my father said to me this morning: you can’t keep a bloody Lambie down,” she said.
“I don’t intend on going away ... I won’t be laying down, I will put the boots back on and go again.”
9.50am: Departing senator heading home
Senator Lambie, elected initially to parliament as a member of the Palmer United Party in 2013 and subsequently as an independent in 2016, is the daughter and grand-daughter of Scottish citizens.
The indigenous-identifying crossbencher has previously expressed pride in her Scottish heritage but insisted she was not a dual citizen.
Senator Lambie intends to return to her home base of Burnie after informing parliament of her decision.
She indicated a return to politics is on her agenda, but didn’t specify whether that would be at a federal level.
“I won’t be laying down. I’m going to get right back on,” Senator Lambie said. “So I am going to have another swing at it and we’ll see how we go this time.”
Senator Lambie’s replacement in the upper house will be determined by the High Court.
Steve Martin was next on the Jacqui Lambie Network Senate ticket at the 2016 election, but there are doubts about his eligibility to sit in parliament.
Asked why Jacqui Lambie ticked ✅ on section 44 box on nomination form, she says: We’re not a family of universities or lawyers #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 13, 2017
9.40am: Lambie news disappointing, Senator Abetz says
Jacqui Lambie #politas #auspol https://t.co/DYUVNggVkO
— Eric Abetz (@SenatorAbetz) November 13, 2017
9.30am: Lambie reveals her shock
Senator Lambie has told LAFM radio in Launceston today: “I didn’t think I actually had a problem with it, so I never gave it a second thought.”
She will make a statement to parliament about 12.40pm.
Jacqui Lambie distraught in interview on Launceston radio, telling how her Dad confirmed Scottish heritage.
— David Crowe (@CroweDM) November 13, 2017
9.20am: Reaction to Lambie’s impending exit
Jacqui Lambie says "I won't be laying down. We'll just put our boots back on, we'll go again" #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 13, 2017
Would you run in Braddon against Justine Keay if Labor MP disqualified? "I'd certainly have a good look at it," says @JacquiLambie
— David Crowe (@CroweDM) November 13, 2017
Jacqui Lambie says she'd never ask next-in-line candidate Steve Martin to resign so she can return. "That spot is his" #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 13, 2017
Jacqui Lambie says she called her dad early Thursday morning and said "Dad I'm gone aren't I?" #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 13, 2017
Greg Brown 9.10am: Lambie citizenship confirmed
Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie will quit parliament after confirming she is a British citizen.
The office of Ms Lambie this morning confirmed she was a dual citizen. She will release a statement later in the day.
The Australian revealed last week her father was born in Scotland.
The the indigenous-identifying crossbench senator had already held discussions with her father, Thomas, and a lawyer about whether she could be a dual British national — which would disqualify her from sitting in federal parliament under section 44 of the Constitution.
After The Australian obtained records showing her father had arrived in Australia from Scotland as a child on the RMS Ormonde passenger liner in 1952, Senator Lambie argued she was still confident she was a sole Australian citizen but did not produce any documents to support her claim.
She released a statement saying she was “proud” of her Scottish ancestry and had discovered more about her father’s background only in recent weeks.
Steve Martin was next on the Jacqui Lambie Network Senate ticket for Tasmania and received 233 first-preference votes.
Caroline Overington 9am: Senator Lambie ‘a working class act’
Jacqui Lambie’s departure is a great shame for the parliament — read here.
Greg Brown 8.40am: Wong rejects citizenship query
Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong says her “history is there for all to see” as she rejected claims she could be implicated in the citizenship chaos.
Senator Wong said she would comply with the new disclosure rules and proving she rescinded the citizenship of her country of birth, which is Malaysia.
She also claimed Labor deserved all the credit for the citizenship disclosure reforms which passed the Senate yesterday.
“We are happy with the arrangement that has been agreed to because it is what we wanted, we wanted a stronger system of disclosure, the government has agreed to that, we wanted an earlier date of disclosure, the prime minister had a much later date, and the government has agreed to that,” Senator Wong said.
“It is a pity it took Labor and the Australian people pressing so hard for this before Malcolm Turnbull was prepared to act but we have landed an agreement and that is a good thing for the country.”
Greg Brown 8.20am: ‘license to discriminate’
Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong says the Dean Smith bill to legalise same-sex marriage has “appropriate protections” for religious freedom as she savages an alternative bill being pushed by Coalition conservatives as giving a “license to discriminate”.
Senator Wong said the bill sponsored by Liberal senator James Paterson would be akin to going back to a time where shops had signs saying: “we don’t serve Jews, we don’t serve blacks”.
“What we’re talking about is an increased license to discriminate. Australians didn’t vote for that. The bill, the Smith bill, the cross-party bill, has appropriate protections,” Senator Wong said
“It is reasonable that people whose religion doesn’t agree or doesn’t enable same-sex marriage - it is reasonable for those ministers to refuse to marry people.
“But what we’re talking about is a broader proposition. We’re the country of the fair go. We don’t believe in discrimination and this bill is about extending the license to discriminate.”
She said the alternative bill was being pushed by opponents of same-sex marriage despite Senator Paterson being a Yes voter.
“This bill is being supported by the very people who have opposed marriage equality every single step of the way for years,” she said.
“Every single step of the way for years these people have frustrated, opposed, blocked the advance of equality, and now they’re seeking to entrench more discrimination.
“It is a blocking and delaying tactic and, frankly, I think if the Australian people do vote Yes, they’re not going to look kindly on the same group of people who have urged a No vote not accepting the outcome and trying to delay further. “
Greg Brown 8am: Turnbull ‘safe’
Attorney-General George Brandis has backed Malcolm Turnbull to see out the rest of the parliamentary term as leader, declaring “you always go through ups and downs in politics”.
Senator Brandis said this morning the Prime Minister retained the support of the party room despite dismal numbers in yesterday’s Newspoll, which showed a drop in Mr Turnbull’s personal support and Labor leading the two-party preferred 55-45 per cent.
“Mr Turnbull, to put it in context, is in a more favourable position than John Howard was in the middle of parliamentary terms during his long rule and then he went on to win the following election,” Senator Brandis told Sky News.
“I know Newspoll obsesses some people the fact is this parliament has only been going for a little over a year it is not even half way through its life.”
He said the government had good messages to sell, including on job creation.
“This year, since the beginning of 2017, the rate of job creation, most of it full time jobs by the way, is greater than at any since before the GFC,” he said.
7.30am: Brandis warns Shorten
The Attorney-General warns the onus is now on Bill Shorten to live by the same standard he has demanded of the government when it comes to the dual-citizenship debacle.
A resolution passed in the Senate on Monday requires senators to make declarations about all relevant particulars of their citizenship in a special registry by December 1, with a similar motion expected to be passed in the House of Representatives when it meets.
“Bill Shorten has been playing a very dodgy game in this business from start to finish,” Attorney-General George Brandis told Nine on Tuesday.
What’s making news:
• Malcolm Turnbull is facing demands from conservative Coalition MPs and the No campaign to provide acceptable religious and freedom-of-speech protections or be punished for supporting a same-sex marriage bill backed by Labor and the Greens.
• Support for same-sex marriage has gained more ground in the final weeks of the postal survey, with the Yes vote climbing to 63 per cent among those who have cast their votes, a special Newspoll has found.
• The PM is heading for a political showdown on citizenship that threatens to eclipse his agenda in the final weeks of federal parliament this year, amid a widening storm over the right of up to 10 federal MPs to hold office.
• New senator Fraser Anning dramatically left One Nation before he was sworn into the Senate after being involved in an imbroglio with Pauline Hanson.
• Independent MP Bob Katter has sided with Labor in the dual citizenship row and decided against referring opposition members to the High Court, in a key move to maximise the pressure on the government over a banking royal commission.
• Just two days since he resigned his northwestern Sydney seat of Bennelong, John Alexander was hot on the campaign trail and facing a very tight logistic timetable if he is to retake his place in parliament.
• Dennis Shanahan writes the Coalition’s low primary vote of 36 per cent is the biggest threat to Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.
Miners change tune on climate change
Peak mining industry body The Minerals Council of Australia has joined the fight on climate.
Labor to turn up heat on Taylor
Labor will use the final two weeks of parliament to heap pressure on Energy Minister Angus Taylor.