Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

For the reasons I have described earlier, the government is satisfied that the member for New England is qualified to sit in this House. Based on the advice that we have received, we are very confident indeed that this will be confirmed in the High Court. I repeat: we did not refer this matter to the court because of any doubt about the member for New England's position, but because of the need, plainly, in the public interest, to give the court the opportunity to clarify the operation of this section, which is so important to the operation of our parliament.

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