Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been disqualified his governmental position because he held dual citizenship when he was elected. He was one five politicians who were deemed being incorrectly elected because they held two passports and were thus dual citizens. They were ineligible because they were a "subject or citizen a foreign power". Australia's constitution prohibits dual nationals being elected. Mr Joyce's departure has put pressure Australia's ruling National Party, which now has just 75 seats the 150-seat House of Representatives. Mr Joyce could return to office running a by-election after he renounced his New Zealand citizenship August.
Mr Joyce accepted the court's decision, which he said typified the democratic values Australia. He said: "I respect the verdict the court. We live a marvelous democracy. With all the checks and balances, it has given us all the freedoms we see. I thank the court their deliberations." He added: "The decision the court today is clearly not the outcome we were hoping , but the business government goes ." Many Australians believe the dual citizenship laws should be changed. The latest census Australia shows that 28 per cent Australians were born overseas. Many more have a family history going back generations that would entitle them to claim dual citizenship.
