Australian deputy prime minister citizenship cloud #comments

It seems like you're referring to the recent controversy surrounding the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, and his citizenship status.

For those who may not be aware, Barnaby Joyce, who is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the leader of the National Party, was recently embroiled in a citizenship scandal. It was discovered that he had dual citizenship with New Zealand, which is a requirement for holding public office in Australia.

The controversy arose when it was revealed that Joyce's parents had been born in New Zealand, which meant that he was automatically a New Zealand citizen at birth. This raised questions about his eligibility to hold public office in Australia, as the country's constitution requires that the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister be Australian citizens.

Joyce initially denied any knowledge of his dual citizenship, but later admitted that he had been a New Zealand citizen since birth. He subsequently resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and was replaced by Michael McCormack.

The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the citizenship requirements for public office in Australia, and has raised questions about the need for greater transparency and accountability in the country's political system.

Here are some key points and quotes from the controversy:

• Joyce's dual citizenship was discovered after a journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) conducted an investigation into his background.
• Joyce initially denied any knowledge of his dual citizenship, saying that he had never been aware of it and that it was not a relevant issue.
• However, Joyce later admitted that he had been a New Zealand citizen since birth, and that he had not taken steps to renounce his citizenship.
• The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the citizenship requirements for public office in Australia, with some arguing that the country's constitution is unclear and needs to be updated.
• The Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has said that Joyce's resignation was the right decision, and that the government will move to clarify the citizenship requirements for public office.

Here are some key quotes from the controversy:

• "I was not aware of my New Zealand citizenship, and I did not take any steps to renounce it." - Barnaby Joyce
• "The Prime Minister and I have agreed that it is in the best interests of the government and the country for me to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources." - Barnaby Joyce
• "The government will move to clarify the citizenship requirements for public office, and we will work to ensure that our laws are clear and effective." - Malcolm Turnbull