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[smjjames]

Politics? Although... I forget which one it was, but one of the politicians that resigned over it said that they could have removed it, but didn't want to deal with the proccess of doing it as it'd have taken some time. At least that's the reason that was given.

[martinuzz]

The obvious solution is for Australia to annex NZ. Problem solved.

EDIT: inb4 moscow annexation hotline post

[Reudh]

... So why can't they just renounce their second citizenship and be done with it?

They can, but they'd have to sit for preselection again, which effectively means they're out of the Senate until they manage to get back in.

[EDIT:] Bob Katter, a rogueish MP for the Katter Australian Party, has withdrawn "supply and confidence" in the Turnbull Government, following the Joyce thing. This could be big, potentially; though independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan have both stated they will continue supporting the Turnbull Government; with Wilkie being more reticent and stating "he would continue to approach bills on their merits and not guarantee anyone anything"

[smjjames]

Another one, dual Australian/UK this time., also, that part of the constitution is going to be tested before Australias equivalent of the US Supreme Court next week sometime.

[Reudh]

The crazy train never stops when Pauline Hanson's around.

Well known, infamous Queenslander and all around dangerous dillettante Pauline Hanson showed up to Parliamentary Question Time wearing a burqa today. Knowing her, it was exclusively to mock Muslims and make light of the fact that burqas are not forbidden within Parliament House (the "security reason" oft quoted by people who look at life in absolutes).

The Attorney General, George Brandis, normally a nincompoop of the highest order (in my eyes at least), was outraged. He stood up and gave her a withering tirade. Responses included:

Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Jonathon Duniam (don't worry, I've never heard of him either): "oh, what on earth?" before Hanson had been identified by the head of the Senate

Attorney General (and Senator) Brandis, also Liberal Party: "To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do. I would ask you to reflect on that"

Many Labor and Greens senators reportedly gave Brandis a standing ovation for his comments, while Senator Wong, of the Labor Party said "It is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith, there is another to wear it as a stunt here in the chamber."

In a statement later, the head of the Greens Party, Richard di Natale, congratulated Brandis for his "strong, impassioned, and personal response" and stated "I want to thank you (Brandis) for showing leadership in this chamber, leadership that is so often lacking in this Parliament,"

Nick Xenophon, of the Nick Xenophon Team, a minor, moderate party that holds moderate power in South Australia said that Hanson displayed "toxic behaviour" and praised Brandis for "speaking like a true statesman". Also: "He displayed the leadership and clarity of purpose that this country needs on issues such as this. Good on you, George"

"In an extremely rare event," Greens and Labor senators and crossbenchers, including Derryn Hinch, applauded and gave Brandis an ovation for his strong response. Liberal senators did not give him a standing ovation, but around half joined in on the applause.

All in all, our government and senate might be dysfunctional and divided, but at least we can unite in condemnation of shitheads.

[Reelya]

The whole tough-on-immigration thing they've been doing for the last couple of decades seems to be biting the government on the ass. Right now the high court ruled that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce wasn't eligible for election due to his holding dual citizenship at the time of his election. The recent tightening up on the strict enforcement of the constitutional rules on citizenship is really hurting the anti-immigrant party funnily enough.

http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/judgement-day-for-citizenship-seven/news-story/3e7ed5f5e958a0aff422c49fe86aca97

And you know what's especially hilarious? The government had a one seat majority. And another ironic thing is that most of the relevant losses for not being proper citizens according to the strict adherence to the constitutional rules have been from the "National Party" who set themselves up as the most Australian of all Australian parties ...

THe main irony is that the government can't cry foul about strictly enforcing constitutional rules about citizenship when I bites them on the ass without making themselves look like complete hypocrites.

[Reudh]

Hah, and Turnbull had even said that he felt that Joyce was fine! That's the best bit, he has egg all over his face.

[smjjames]

Maybe you should do like we do and only have the requirement be for the head of government and/or head of state?

(see what I did there with head of state? heh).

We only make a big deal out of it when it's the President.

[Reelya]

That wouldn't work in a parliamentary system. In fact

https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/prime-minister.html

Although the Prime Minister is often seen as the most important person in the Parliament, the role is not mentioned in the Australian Constitution. The Prime Minister works according to practices and customs that developed over hundreds of years in the British Parliament and were then adopted by the Australian Parliament.

That's the big difference between a parliamentary system as a presidential republic. Effectively, the leadership team in a parliament can run itself in whatever way works, but they are also subject to recall at any time by parliament, since their only actual powers are granted by parliament. Imagine if the president was appointed by Congress but could have his mandate revoked at any time.

It's also a fact that ministers are appointed from elected members of parliament, but I think this merely by convention too. They'd be free to run things the way the US cabinet works, however that wouldn't be popular, since people like the ability to vote out ministers, and ministerial positions are a way of rewarding factions within the party.

[Jimmy]

So for those playing at home, the unconstitutional detention centre on Manus Island has been closed down.

The asylum seekers currently remaining refuse to leave the closed centre, citing they fear violence from locals.

Power and water have been shut off, fences are being dismantled, and alternative sites are available for relocation.

So far there's a stand-off between local authorities and the occupants, with no move so far to forcibly evict them from the site.

[Reelya]

Also in other news ... another Liberal MP has stood down. That means the ruling coalition now only have 74 votes out of 150 in the house of representatives in parliament. (btw who ever thought an even number of seats was a good idea?)

Basically with a couple of vacancies now they have to win both back in by-elections or they're reduced to a minority government and are in danger of a coup-plotting upset from Labor.

[smjjames]

Also in other news ... another Liberal MP has stood down. That means the ruling coalition now only have 74 votes out of 150 in the house of representatives in parliament. (btw who ever thought an even number of seats was a good idea?)

Don't they have a mechanism to break ties? It's like that in the US Senate where the VP casts the tie breaking vote. It's very rare that the Senate actually goes 50/50 split between parties. Such a split in the curreI nt political climate would be nuts.

[Reelya]

Looking it up, the speaker of the house has the deciding vote in ties. However, they don't get their normal vote, only the tie-breaker.

The speaker of the house must be chosen by absolute majority vote however, so that still doesn't answer what the outcome would be for a 75:75 split between labor and liberals. Neither side could in fact have a clear 76 majority in votes, no matter who got the speaker role.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

How exactly would disagreement over electing a Speaker play out? Furthermore, what circumstances trigger a Speaker election?

[smjjames]

I assume they vote on it after each new election or the speaker is booted out via a vote of no confidence (or just forced out like Boehner was).