Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rejected outright a proposition that would oblige every every MP to disclose their family history.
Put forward by federal Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten, the idea would see an audit on all federal politicians.
But Malcolm Turnbull told Channel 9 that it was ultimately a decision that should be left to the high court.
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten has suggested that all MPs disclose their family history
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rejected the proposition, saying it was a matter for court
‘Every member of parliament has a continuous obligation to comply with the constitution,’ Mr Turnbull said.
‘What is Turnbull hiding, what does he know that we don’t?’ My MPs are happy to come forward, all of them,’ Mr Shorten said.
The opposition leader said it is ‘hypocritical’ of the prime minister and it’s a ‘completely gutless lack of leadership’.
Mr Turnbull has hit back, saying, ‘If Mr Shorten or any other member of the house believes there are, that there is a member who is not eligible to sit in the house, then of course they can move to refer the matter to the high court.’
Mr Turnbull revealed Mr Frydenberg’s mother was born in a Budapest ghetto in 1943 and fled
Malcolm Turnbull this week blasted warring politicians for starting a ‘witch hunt’ over the citizenship status of Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.
The prime minister revealed Mr Frydenberg’s mother was born in a Budapest ghetto in 1943 and fled to Australia to avoid certain death during the Holocaust.
‘It is a miracle they weren’t killed, as so many of their relatives were. Three quarters of all the Jews in Hungary were murdered in the Holocaust,’ he said on Friday.
‘Are people seriously claiming that Josh Frydenberg is the citizen of a country which has stripped his mother and her family of their citizenship?
‘(They) would have pushed them into the gas chambers had it not been that the war was ended before they had time to do so.’
Stephen Parry, the leader of the upper house, will reportedly submit his resignation Thursday
The call by Mr Shorten comes after five out of seven MPs under investigation were ousted from parliament for holding dual citizenship.
Barnaby Joyce, Senator Ludlam, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts, Greens MP Larissa Waters and Nationals MP Fiona Nash have all been booted from office.
Meanwhile, Stephen Parry, the leader of the upper house and a member of Turnbull’s Liberal party, said he will submit his resignation on Thursday after he being told that along with his Australian citizenship he also held British citizenship by descent.