Anatomy of a ‘thought bubble’: is the Coalition serious about a referendum on deporting criminals?

Peter Dutton has floated the idea of a referendum on giving the federal government more powers to deport criminals with dual citizenship. Coalition MPs, even those who back the idea, say they want more detail. Photograph: Nadir Kinani/AAP

At 7am on Tuesday, Peter Dutton was publicly discussing reports of his suggestion for a referendum on stripping citizenship from dual nationals convicted of serious crimes.

But by mid-morning, the opposition leader’s shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, was telling media: “We have no plans to hold a referendum at this stage.”