While the specifics of any referendum policy haven’t been revealed, a constitutional change giving the minister the power to strip citizenship would centralise power in the hands of the minister, effectively bypassing the courts.

He said very few people are convicted of terrorism offences in Australia, and even fewer of those are dual nationals, also pointing out it’s unclear why they need to have their citizenship stripped when already serving very long prison sentences.

This wouldn’t require a referendum.

The Coalition has criticised Labor for spending $450 million on the Voice referendum, arguing the funds would have been better used to support struggling Australians rather than divide the nation.

“In terms of cost of living, of course, that’s our priority economically … If we believe that we want to keep people safe if you want to keep your kids safe, and we want to keep kids safe in our community, I don’t think you can put a price on that”, he told Sunrise.

‘It’ll become toxic’

“Because I just don’t know why we need to go to a referendum, which is, by the way, going to cost millions. It’ll become toxic.”

‘A thought bubble’

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it was an important issue, but the referendum idea was an attempt by Dutton to distract from the fact that his party has no economic policies.

— With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press