Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the opposition, I make clear that we welcome the decision of the government to refer the Deputy Leader of The Nationals to the Court of Disputed Returns. Given the clear evidence that she may be a dual citizen, this is the right thing to do. However, we place on the record our grave concerns that the minister is refusing to follow the lead of her colleague, Senator Canavan, and standing aside as a minister. When there are real doubts about your right to sit in this parliament then you ought not be acting as a minister and taking important decisions as a member of the executive until that matter is resolved. Labor urges the minister to reconsider. Labor urges the minister to follow the lead of Senator Canavan, a minister who was put in precisely the same position as Senator Nash, but who, unlike Senator Nash, did the right thing. Senator Canavan said:

Given the uncertainty around this matter, I will stand aside until the matter is finally resolved and resign as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.

That is the appropriate standard. It is the standard that has been set. It is the standard that should be followed.