Backing for top lawyer

Australian Attorney General George Brandis has thrown his support behind the government’s top lawyer after Friday’s decision by the High Court was contrary to his advice. The High Court ruled five parliamentarians who hold dual citizenship constitutionally ineligible to nominate for parliament at the 2016 election, including deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and deputy Nationals leader Fiona Nash. ‘‘I have an enormous amount of confidence in Stephen Donaghue the Solicitor-General,’’ Senator Brandis said yesterday. Senator Brandis also has no reason to believe any other member of the coalition government is a dual citizen.