Cathy McGowan may have just become the most powerful figure in the Federal Parliament, but has refused to use that power for pork barreling.
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The High Court decision on Friday afternoon to rule Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce ineligible as an MP because of dual citizenship meant the government no longer had a one-seat majority.
The vote of Ms McGowan will be crucial to passing any legislation before Mr Joyce can re-contest a by-election on December 2.
But Indi should not expect to see its independent MP arrive in Parliament with a list of demands.
“I won’t be doing any deals and I won’t be looking for special treatment,” she said.
“I will consider every bill on its merits and will continue to represent the interests of my electorate.
“I will continue to supply confidence and support to the government.”
Ms McGowan said she would not support any no-confidence motion introduced by the Labor Party, but would not be scared to vote against the government and put its majority at risk for an issue she felt strongly about – while following the rules of Parliament.
“I’m absolutely committed to continuing to represent the issues we’ve been doing, putting forward Indi’s issues,” she said.
“It’s really been working for us.”
The Coalition has not always supported Ms McGowan’s ideas in Parliament, but she said MPs always gave her a fair hearing and she did not believe her new position of power would cause them to treat her any differently.
She said the focus on herself, Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie and the New England by-election showed how important regional electorates were to the country.
Parliament will resume on November 27, just a week before New England goes to the polls, in a sitting week expected to be shared by the Coalition’s lack of a majority and the same-sex marriage issue, following the outcome of the survey being made public on November 15.
“That will be the main act of Parliament that week,” Ms McGowan said.
Mr Joyce referred himself to the court on August 14 after learning he had inherited New Zealand citizenship from his father James. Dual citizens are constitutionally prohibited from serving in Federal Parliament.
He stayed in cabinet while the court considered his case, citing legal advice that he would be safe.
He is one of five federal MPs knocked out by the court.
Deputy Nationals leader Fiona Nash is also among them, given her British dual citizenship. Her seat is set to go to the next person on the Coalition's NSW Senate ticket.
Fellow National and former cabinet minister Matt Canavan survived the court's judgement, despite doubts about whether he had Italian citizenship.
One Nation's Malcolm Roberts has also been disqualified. Born in India to a Welsh father, he did not renounce his British citizenship until well after last year's election. He is set to be replaced by the next on the One Nation ticket, Fraser Anning.
Former Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters - both of whom have already resigned from Parliament - were also ruled ineligible.
Crossbencher Nick Xenophon was also ruled safe, but he has already announced he would leave federal politics to run for South Australian Parliament, regardless of the court's decision.
