Senior Labor ministers are facing a grilling over claims unnamed ministerial colleagues are questioning whether the citizenship of Fatima Payman would affect her ability to remain in the senate.
Fallout over her decision to defect to the senate crossbench has sparked reports in The Australian that some senior ministers are claiming the former refugee’s Afghani and Australian citizenship could put her in breach of Section 44 of the Constitution, which states foreign and dual citizens cannot sit in parliament.
Speaking to media on Friday, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Education Jason Clare swerved questions about concerns of Senator Payman’s political eligibility.
Ms Gallagher said she had “no understanding” of the issues, and was unaware of the claims from fellow members.
“As a person that’s gone through a section 44 process, the ALP’s vetting processes are pretty tight these days, but I have no idea where that story is coming from,” she told the ABC.
Mr Clare also attempted to distance himself from the claims.
“I honestly don’t know the answer to that,” Mr Clare told Channel 7.
“Fatima’s been elected to the Senate, I presume she’ll continue to serve in the Senate as an independent senator.”
