Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull 'Disappointed' as Deputy Found Ineligible by High Court

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was “disappointed” to learn Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce had been ruled ineligible for parliament by the High Court of Australia on October 27.

At 2:15 pm, the court ruled Joyce and four others, including Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters of the Greens, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts and National Party’s Fiona Nash, ineligible to serve in parliament because of their dual citizenship, the ABC reported. Joyce is a citizen of New Zealand, where his father was born. Earlier in the year, Waters and Ludlum resigned after they were informed of their violation of Section 44 of the Australian constitution by holding dual citizenship while in office.

Matt Canavan and Nick Xenophon, who were also under scrutiny, survived the court ruling, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Former independent member Tony Windsor said he would not run in the by-election for the seat of New England announced for December 2, suggesting it would not be much of a challenge for Joyce. Credit: Malcolm Turnbull via Storyful