Keay plays down backlash danger

FORMER Braddon Labor MP Justine Keay came out firing yesterday at the High Court decision over dual citizenship which forced her resignation.

Back in Devonport, Ms Keay denied that she would suffer a backlash for holding on so long and drawing a salary of more than $100,000 after her position became untenable.

“I did everything I had to in order to satisfy the Constitution as the test was set at that time,” she said.

“You can talk to the constitutional experts, they are very shocked with the decision that the High Court made.

“I could not believe that the High Court would render so many Australians ineligible for contesting elections.

“I think that is a very harsh decision indeed but that is what they’ve done — you take that on the chin. This is what I don’t think the Constitution intended to do.”

But she stopped short of backing a referendum to reform the Constitution, saying it would be a very expensive exercise.

Ms Keay stood by her claim that she had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce despite waiting nearly a year after pre- selection in June 2015 to begin the renunciation process in May 2016.

She was sorry for the “inconvenience” that Braddon voters would be forced back to the polls for the second time in four months.

Ms Keay said she could “absolutely” win the upcoming by-election.

“I think my record stands for itself. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have sought my assistance and been helped in some way.”

Ms Keay said her renunciation papers sat in a “Pommy bureaucrat’s ‘in’ tray for weeks and weeks and weeks”.

She said she was happy to take on Liberal Brett Whiteley, who is expected to stand for the seat.

“Brett Whiteley is obviously a known quantity, he lost the last election. I’m very confident in giving him a very hard go if he wanted to take me on again,” she said.

Ms Keay said it was Labor interventions during the state election campaign which resulted in the bringing forward of a brain operation for Judy Clark, of East Devonport.