Australian court rules deputy PM ineligible for parliament government loses majority
Barnaby Joyce
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australiaâs High Court ruled on Friday that  Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce  is ineligible to remain in parliament  a stunning decision that cost the government its one-seat parliamentary majority and forced a by-election.
 Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce  reacts as  he  sits behind Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra  Australia  October 24  2017. AAP/Lukas Coch/via REUTERS
Turnbullâs center-right coalition is now in a precarious position. His Liberal Party is the senior party in a coalition with the smaller National Party  which  Joyce  led.
The opposition Labor Party immediately went on the attack and threatened to launch a legal challenge to every decision made by  Joyce  since last yearâs election.
 Joyce  was one of a group of lawmakers  known as the âCitizenship Sevenâ  whose eligibility to sit in parliament was thrown into doubt in recent months when it was found they were dual citizens  a status that is barred for politicians under Australiaâs constitution to prevent split allegiances. [nL4N1ML1LH]
Turnbull is under added pressure because he refused to force  Joyce  to step aside while his case was considered by the High Court.  Joyce   whose New England electorate is in rural New South Wales state  renounced  his  dual New Zealand citizenship in August. [nS9N1I700B]
 Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce  reacts as  he  sits in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra  Australia  October 25  2017. Picture taken October 25  2017. AAP/Mick Tsikas/via REUTERS
 Joyce  confirmed  he  would stand in the by-election  which polling shows  he  has a strong chance of winning.
âIt is a tough game  politics â  Joyce  told reporters in the rural town of Tamworth in  his  electorate. âYou take the hits and the sacrifices.â
Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Turnbull had shown âreckless judgmentâ in keeping  Joyce  on the front bench during the court challenge.
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australiaâs High Court ruled on Friday that   [TGT] is ineligible to remain in parliament  a stunning decision that cost the government its one-seat parliamentary majority and forced a by-election.
  [TGT] reacts as   [TGT]   sits behind Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra  Australia  October 24  2017. AAP/Lukas Coch/via REUTERS
Turnbullâs center-right coalition is now in a precarious position. His Liberal Party is the senior party in a coalition with the smaller National Party  which   [TGT] led.
The opposition Labor Party immediately went on the attack and threatened to launch a legal challenge to every decision made by  [TGT] since last yearâs election.
  [TGT] was one of a group of lawmakers  known as the âCitizenship Sevenâ  whose eligibility to sit in parliament was thrown into doubt in recent months when it was found they were dual citizens  a status that is barred for politicians under Australiaâs constitution to prevent split allegiances. [nL4N1ML1LH]
Turnbull is under added pressure because he refused to force   [TGT] to step aside while his case was considered by the High Court.   [TGT] whose New England electorate is in rural New South Wales state  renounced   [TGT]   dual New Zealand citizenship in August. [nS9N1I700B]
  [TGT] reacts as   [TGT]   sits in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra  Australia  October 25  2017. Picture taken October 25  2017. AAP/Mick Tsikas/via REUTERS
  [TGT] confirmed   [TGT]   would stand in the by-election  which polling shows   [TGT]   has a strong chance of winning.
âIt is a tough game  politics â   [TGT] told reporters in the rural town of Tamworth in   [TGT]   electorate. âYou take the hits and the sacrifices.â
Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Turnbull had shown âreckless judgmentâ in keeping   [TGT] on the front bench during the court challenge.