Talking Politics | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Talking Politics

The irony is that you can be an Australian citizen and stand for the British parliament as I understand it

Many years ago we had a prime minister who once said that he felt more British than Australian and he went on to be our longest serving PM.. Bob Menzies
 
Total Tiger said:
I think it's right to have it in the constitution. The only way to guarantee that the rights of Australia are the sole focus of our policy makers is to ensure they don't hold citizenship of another country. We allow for people born overseas to become Australian citizens and lead our nation, which other including the USA do not, but I don't think it's too much to ask that they are citizens of our country alone.
Click to expand...
Ok, fair point. But does that mean we should also bring in the same rule for those wanting to serve in the ADF, ASIO, AFP, DFAT, AEC, Border Force etc?

Sintiger said:
The irony is that you can be an Australian citizen and stand for the British parliament as I understand it

Many years ago we had a prime minister who once said that he felt more British than Australian and he went on to be our longest serving PM.. Bob Menzies
Click to expand...

And another quirk similar to that. Until very recently there were no restrictions on Commonwealth citizens serving in the British military. Didn't have to be eligible for U.K. citizenship, or even need to have any close ancestral links whatsoever, or indeed even be on a longer term visa. Could pretty much fly in on a tourist visa and apply to join. Only reason it was scaled back was because budget cuts mean there aren't as many vacancies being recruited for. Had I found out about this rule before I was married with kids. Likely I would have taken this up instead of joining the ADF like I did.

Also, apparently citizens of queen's dominion countries residing in the UK can enrol to vote. Don't even need to be eligible for permanent residency. I think being on anything longer than a 3 month tourist visa is enough.
 
the perfect solution for this whole fiasco is the slate to be cleared for everyone and a double dissolution election called.
 
Ian4 said:
the perfect solution for this whole fiasco is the slate to be cleared for everyone and a double dissolution election called.
Click to expand...

Nah we have just had a double dissolution election - I can't understand why both parties just don't agree to a full audit of all MP's - take about 3 or 4 weeks and then hold by-elections for those caught out.

Relying on individuals to come forward or doing their own checks clearly hasn't worked and would potentially not change anything if we had a new election.
 
year of the tiger said:
Nah we have just had a double dissolution election - I can't understand why both parties just don't agree to a full audit of all MP's - take about 3 or 4 weeks and then hold by-elections for those caught out.

Relying on individuals to come forward or doing their own checks clearly hasn't worked and would potentially not change anything if we had a new election.
Click to expand...
Yep this^^

Although. Should we audit every member to have ever served in Parliament? Then of those ruled ineligible, rule their vote invalid on every piece of legislation they ever voted on. Could mean repealing some pretty old legislation of we went down that route. How long's a piece of string....??
 
Considering that absolutely everyone living in Australia has a heritage that is not Australian, including indigenous Australians, then it is an absolute nonsense to have this current fiasco.
It is of course just political games.....the result.....we Australians lose out on functional governance.
That's all it is.
What a load of rubbish.
Starting to think it is getting closer to my time to leave this universe. Had enough of this garbage.
 
Nah *smile* them. They knew the rules. I've known about this rule since we looked at the parliament in school 20+ years ago. There is no way most of these didn't know they had to renounce any citizenship and there is no way they didn't know that the country of birth of their parents affected their own status. I call *smile*.
 
Panthera Tigris said:
Yep this^^

Although. Should we audit every member to have ever served in Parliament? Then of those ruled ineligible, rule their vote invalid on every piece of legislation they ever voted on. Could mean repealing some pretty old legislation of we went down that route. How long's a piece of string....??
Click to expand...

What about us dual citizens who voted...?!

Maybe our votes should be repealed and then all the single citizen votes counted again?
 
On the flip side there must be tens of thousands Aus. Born citizens who have another passport avilable just by putting their hand up. In this global world having a UK or Eurozone passport would be mighty handy. All my grandparents and parents born here. But I was born in an Asian country .....
 
James Merlino making a doofus of himself in an interview by trying to deflect the current crime issue on to Matthew Guy. But that’s Liberals doing what the Liberals do best...... :hihi

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-17/awkward-exchange-between-malcolm-turnbull-and-james-merlino/9335950
 
The unemployment rate in Victoria has risen from 5.5% to 6.1%.

Nationally 5.4% to 5.5%.
 
tigertim said:
The unemployment rate in Victoria has risen from 5.5% to 6.1%.

Nationally 5.4% to 5.5%.
Click to expand...

Premier Guy and PM Shorten will reverse thise trends?

I think we have missed the tram in the 21 St century economy. We can catch up as we are still a relatively prosperous nation but we can't rest on on laurels. The odds of us becoming antipodean US are increasing ... An underclass, working poor, without the billionaires at the top. With a parliament who agree on general direction and policy and differ primarily on detail and priorities could allow us to catch up and get ahead even. However .....
 
This is not a defence of Joyce. But in a country of immigrants in the era of globalisation why do parliamentarians have to renounce their birth citizenship? Why can't they be duel citizens?
MD Jazz said:
Good point. Archaic.
Click to expand...
Nah, cannot see any merit in letting anyone else with an allegiance to another country, have any say in my country. Shouldn't be able to stand for parliment let alone vote. Come to us, enjoy our way of life remain an alien by choice miss out on the benefits. Become an Australian and live life how you want.
Stop shopping allegiances.
 
HR said:
This is not a defence of Joyce. But in a country of immigrants in the era of globalisation why do parliamentarians have to renounce their birth citizenship? Why can't they be duel citizens?Nah, cannot see any merit in letting anyone else with an allegiance to another country, have any say in my country. Shouldn't be able to stand for parliment let alone vote. Come to us, enjoy our way of life remain an alien by choice miss out on the benefits. Become an Australian and live life how you want.
Stop shopping allegiances.
Click to expand...

*smile* argument.

I'm born and bred Melbourne but have lived in London for the last decade. Married an English girl and had a couple of kids. Took out British Citizenship and got a British passport for ease of travel around Europe for work.

Are you telling me I couldn't represent a constituency when I return to the area I grew up and lived for 20 years...?
 
Giardiasis said:
Sure you could Midsy, you'd just have to renounce your British citizenship.
Click to expand...

I guess I just don't understand the logic as to why I would. How does me holding British citizenship reduce my effectiveness as a potential MP?

I guess I can sort of understand the umbrella argument that Australia may not want dual citizens of some countries, so all have to be thrown into the same basket, but it seems a bit narrow minded.

If someone is worthy enough to hold or be granted Australian citizenship, are they not worthy enough to represent it's people?
 
You wouldn’t a pollie flying back to their other country to avoid trial/criminal proceedings. As a dual citizen you can be sure your other country’s intelligence types will be seeing if you can be an asset to them. Any vote/decision that has an impact directly or indirectly on your other country will be questioned.

I’m sure there are other valid reasons. But you’re not banned from serving if that is your desire, you’re jaunt asked to hold a single citizenship.

Hell, in the US you can’t be president if you weren’t born in US, even if you popped out early while your parents were holidaying in Mexico or Canada.
 
Giardiasis said:
Sure you could Midsy, you'd just have to renounce your British citizenship.
Click to expand...

but who's private property rights would Midsy be infringing against by being an MP with dual citizenship?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
State Government >
Top Bottom