One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts’ 7-Eleven claim sparks racism row

ONE Nation Senator attracts raft of racism-related criticism by making the bizarre claim he’s never owned a 7-Eleven store while hosing down speculation he’s not an eligible MP because he was born in India.

ONE Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has hosed down speculation he is not an eligible Member of Parliament because he was born in India by making the bizarre claim he has never owned a 7-Eleven store.

Senator Roberts, who was born in Dishergarh, India, attracted a raft of racism-related criticism on social media after he also said he was not a “chucker” in reference to being an illegal bowler at cricket.

“On another note, I do not own, nor have I ever owned, a 7-11. I’m not even a chucker,” he wrote.

On another note, I do not own, nor have I ever owned, a 7-11. I'm not even a chucker #auspol #NotIndian

— Sen. Malcolm Roberts (@SenatorMRoberts) July 18, 2017

Following the resignation of senator Larissa Waters, Senator Roberts took to Twitter to declare he had checked with Indian authorities in 2014 to confirm he was not a citizen.

“Prior to agreeing to run as a candidate for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation I fully investigated whether I was eligible to hold the position of Senator in the Australian Senate,” he wrote.

Many of the responses were x-rated, with one Twitter user saying Roberts was “an idiot and a f***ing racist. You’re an embarrassment”.