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Citizen row not hurting Far North: Entsch

A FAR NORTHERN Federal MP and a business leader are dismissing concerns that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s dual citizenship controversy is having an impact on the region.

Senator Joyce has revealed he could be a New Zealand citizen less than a month after he took over as Minister for Northern Australia when Senator Matt Canavan stood down because of an issue with Italian citizenship.

But Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch is certain Mr Joyce will stay in Parliament and serve Northern Australia.

“These dual citizenship issues are drawing very long bows. It’s bordering on ridiculous,” he said. “I think he’s rock solid. He’s certainly staying where he is and he’ll continue doing what he’s doing now.”

Mr Entsch said the bigger problem was in the constitution. It was forcing politicians to leave their jobs.

“I don’t think that, when the constitution was written in 1901 they had any idea about what would be happening in 2017, especially with mobility,” he said.

“So I say good on Barnaby, what he’s doing will bring clarification to the constitution.”

Advance Cairns chief executive Kevin Byrne said the region hadn’t experienced any noticeable changes since the Northern Australia portfolio was exchanged from Mr Canavan’s hands into Mr Joyce’s.

“I think if Barnaby leaves they’ll just find another person to take on the portfolio,” he said.

“Bureaucracy is a slow-turning wheel, so departures and arrivals of ministers really have little impact in the short term.

“It does appear to be a cursed portfolio though.”

Despite assurances from Mr Joyce and supporters that his position is secure, some North Queensland bodies are already calling for a new Minister for Northern Australia.

Townsville Enterprise policy and investment director Michael McMillan said it would be beneficial if Townsville-based Senator Ian Macdonald fulfilled the role.

Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said the saga was distracting from the needs of Northern Australia.

“I think what’s happened is the attention has been taken off the focus off Northern Australia and it’s put Northern Australia in limbo,” she said.

“It’s put the focus on the individual members of Parliament who were here to represent the community.”