Kiwi in cross-tasman ‘collusion’

"A staff member in my office had informal discussions with New Zealand friends about domestic political issues, including the section 44 debate.'' Australian Senator Penny Wong

A former New Zealand Labour Party insider now in a senior role in Australian politics is alleged to be behind attempts to bring down the Australian government.

Marcus Ganley, a former adviser for Labour in Wellington, now works as the chief of staff to Penny Wong, the leader of the opposition in Australia’s senate.

It was revealed on Tuesday night that Ganley had asked New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins about the possibility that Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce held New Zealand citizenship.

Under Australia’s constitution, representatives cannot hold any citizenship other than Australian.

Joyce may be forced to resign after New Zealand government officials found that he is in fact a New Zealand citizen, as his father was born here.

On Tuesday he renounced his New Zealand citizenship.

As the Liberal-led coalition in Australia has only a single-seat majority, the resignation of Joyce could mean the Government is taken down.

After discussion with Ganley, Hipkins asked a number of questions about citizenship in the New Zealand Parliament. The questions did not explicitly mention Joyce.

Senator Wong confirmed the intervention after her office was contacted on Tuesday.

‘‘A staff member in my office had informal discussions with New Zealand friends about domestic political issues, including the section 44 debate,’’ Wong said.

‘‘At no point did he make any request to raise the issue of dual citizenship in Parliament, a fact confirmed today by Hipkins and the New Zealand Labour leader.’’

She said she and her staff had no knowledge that any questions had even been asked until after the story broke on Monday.

‘‘New Zealand Minister Peter Dunne has since confirmed it was questions by Fairfax journalists, and not the question on notice, which led to the outing of Joyce as a New Zealand citizen,’’ Wong said.

‘‘For the Turnbull government to then turn this into a diplomatic incident to try to distract attention from the failings of the deputy prime minister is both reckless, and damaging.’’

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, said the ‘‘collusion’’ between the two parties could damage relations between the two countries.

‘‘New Zealand is facing an election,’’ Bishop said.

‘‘Should there be a change of government, I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved in allegations designed to undermine the government of Australia.’’

New Zealand Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern met with the Australian High Commissioner on Tuesday to convey that Hipkins’ questions were not centred on Joyce. Instead, it was questions from Fairfax Australia which led to the revelation that he was a NZ citizen.

‘‘The relationship between the New Zealand Labour Party and the Australian Government is too important for politics to get in the way,’’ she said.

‘‘Australian domestic politics is for them and not us, we should not be involved.’’