We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
AUSTRALIAN DEPUTY PRIME Minister Barnaby Joyce’s political future is in doubt today after it emerged he has dual citizenship.
Australia does not allow dual citizens to sit in parliament.
New Zealand confirmed that his citizenship was automatically granted via his father.
The revelation has major implications for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal-National coalition government, which won national elections last year with 76 seats in the House of Representatives — a narrow one-seat majority.
Joyce has refused to step aside, instead referring the case to the High Court, saying that the solicitor-general was confident he would not be disqualified.
Several lawmakers have fallen victim to the obscure rule in recent months, leaving parliamentarians scrambling to clarify their ancestral ties.
Dual citizenship
“Needless to say, I was shocked to receive this information,” Joyce told parliament after hearing he may be a dual citizen.
“I’ve always been an Australian citizen born in Tamworth. Neither me or my parents had any reason to believe that I may be a citizen of any other country.”
The dual citizenship crisis kicked off in July when the minor Greens party’s co-deputy leader Scott Ludlam resigned after revealing he had dual Australian-New Zealand citizenship.
The crisis soon claimed other victims, including Canadian-born Greens senator Larissa Waters and Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who left Cabinet after finding his mother signed him up to Italian citizenship in his 20s.
Joyce said he had been contacted by the New Zealand High Commission last week to advise him that he “could be a citizen of New Zealand by descent”.
While Joyce — the leader of the Nationals party — was born in Australia, he told parliament his father was born in neighbouring New Zealand and moved to Australia in 1947.
A spokesman for New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister, Peter Dunne, said there is no doubt about Joyce’s status, stating that “as far as New Zealand law goes, he is a New Zealand citizen under the Citizenship Act”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I had two cans of Budweiser last night – don’t judge me, it was in the back of the fridge for the last month or so after a get-together & I wanted something cold & frothy.
This morning I feel like I got home at 5 after a bender.
I think your tolerance goes down as you get older.
@OU812: that’s what you get for drinking that shite
@OU812: Two whole cans of bud all to yourself? I think you might have a drink problem
@David: lol
@OU812: Your not drinking enough, thats your problem. You need to drink hard and regularly to keep the liver muscle in shape.
@OU812: Def
@Richard Wright: Budweiser is American for pisswater
@Richard Wright: and if you drink a lot of it, you end up shitting water as well
@OU812: I always keep a drink handy in case i see a snake. Which i also keep handy.
My wallet knows what my weekly alcohol limit is.
@Mick Power: Good point, my wallet says No.
I’ve a well balanced diet. A pint of Guinness in each hand.
@Ciaran Fairley: smile
@Ciaran Fairley: so your the lad enda was going on about. Are ya for or against the water charges ….
Know mine,zero,had enough in the younger days, God don’t miss the hangovers lads!
A pair of quadruple whiskies and another pair of pints, please …
Drink is mad. When else would you sit around a table and drink 8 pints of any other liquid?
Nice to have a cold pint now and again
@Scorpionvenomm: tempting me
Few pints Friday, few pints Sunday. Maybe some wine on a Saturday.
Drank about 15 botles of beer yesterday. Then had three bottles of red wine with my wife over dinner. Going back to bed now I’m so sick.
Two slabs at home during the week and then the pub at the weekend fills me up nicely!
When was it changed from 14 a week for women and 21 for men?
When you are no longer perpendicular to the ground, you have enough.
Seriously though I’ve a relative who has drank and gambled his whole life and still does! He’s in his 80s! I said he should leave his body to science!
Though drinking can be fun it is quite dangerous. Take care of yourself.
@Frank Cooney: stop stealing Brendan Grace’s best material (from 1980!)
@Deborah Behan: whatever you do, don’t cremated him, it willl take years to put him out.
About €20
What’s a limit
Not enough
I always laugh at the standard unit of alcohol, a half pint. When did Irish people start drinking half pints. so 8 and a half pints over 5 days. Do the maths, most people who drink sociably would go over that limit easily.
Then you have an alcohol problem!!!! There has to be some common sense from the anti drink people and they rarely show it.
@Gary Kearney: Thats the point of the article:
“Most people who drink sociably would go over that limit easily”.
Over the limit means it is bad for your health, they didnt ‘choose’ that number for any other reason.
Makes me feel a tad better about myself. 17 standard drinks is circa 4 bottles of red wine. I’m just 3 bottles over. Sorted.
@Gavin Scott: a bottle of wine is usually 7-10 units depending on alcohol content. So 2 bottles will put you over. Personally I drink whiskey out of a wine glass
I know when to call it a night when I topple over and spilt my head open.. Then off for a kebab and home. I’m sensible
I would typically conform to a reverse of the recommended drinking pattern.
5 days drink free and then 17 (or thereabouts) units over 2 consecutive days at the weekend.
“No no, I wouldn’t touch a drop during the week”……..
Let’s see three maybe pints of beer shandy . A year . Maybe less . Some years none really.
No problem with alcohol. It’s all I can do to cope with my “liking” for another class “A” drug in all but name – sugar. Affordable, accessible and socially acceptable cocaine. ….”oh, thanks, 3 spoons please.”
My weekly alcohol limit is exactly what I decide it to be
Is this limit generated by the same ‘experts’ that say Tea,Coffee,Butter,Sugar,Cereals,Bread,Fries,Juices,Margarine,Pizzas…..are bad your health also?
You know when you fall over you have had enough alcohol.
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Bull on this looking for more reasons to up price.
Or they don’t care!
I dont know what it is…
I know i am way over it, and the night is young!!
Mine is when i fall down or fall asleep.
Theres a limit
Bore off. Seriously, who reads this sh ite and changes their habits? Get to Fu ck journal
Quelle surprise
have your say