Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The last time the parliament sat, the government waited an entire week before revealing at the last possible moment that Senator Nash would be referred to the High Court. Will the government guarantee that there are no other government members or senators where the government has sought or received advice on their constitutional qualifications to sit in parliament but not yet made these doubts about their qualifications public?

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

Sometimes the conduct and tactics of the opposition beggar belief. A moment ago, we just saw the grave faced Leader of the Opposition seek indulgence, contrary to all precedent, to make a statement about North Korea. Then came the turn for them to ask a question, which could have been about North Korea. But, instead, it's asked about the matter of citizenship. As honourable members know, the High Court will be dealing with a number of citizenship matters—I think it is now seven in total—most of which are citizenship-by-descent matters. I hardly think the Manager of Opposition Business has much credibility on this issue when his leader is not even prepared to demonstrate that he has renounced his own British citizenship.