One Nation MP Malcolm Roberts was a senator for six months before confirmation UK citizenship was renounced
ONE Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts was a member of parliament for six months before getting confirmation he had relinquished any British citizenship.
NSW
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ONE Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts was a member of parliament for six months before getting confirmation he had relinquished any British citizenship he may have had.
After weeks of refusing to show documents that would clear him of holding career-ending dual citizenship, Mr Roberts has revealed the steps he had taken to relinquish any possible British citizenship.
Mr Roberts confirmed he was put forward for election by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation after showing senior party strategist James Ashby documentation that he wrote to the British consulate — three times — renouncing citizenship before he was elected.
But, he said, confirmation of renunciation was not received from British authorities until December last year, by which time he had already been a Senator for almost six months.
“I persisted and persisted — just badgered,” he told Sky News of his efforts.
Two Greens senators have quit parliament and Nationals Senator Matt Canavan resigned from cabinet over dual-citizenship bungles. Mr Canavan yesterday said he had considered quitting parliament “given the circumstances of other cases”. “But I based my decision very much on that legal advice that we’ve been provided,” he said.
The widening scandals means any MP whose parents or grandparents were born overseas is being questioned about their citizenship status.
This includes Queensland MP Bert van Manen who told The Daily Telegraph he is confident he has not gained Dutch citizenship by descent from his parents, who were born in The Netherlands. He has sought written confirmation from the Dutch consulate.
Labor yesterday insisted its MPs had no citizenship issues.
Questions to Liberal MP Julia Banks about whether she holds Greek citizenship have not been answered. While Ms Banks was born in Melbourne, both her parents are Greek.
Mr Roberts was born in India to an Australian mother and Welsh father. Documents show he travelled on a UK passport at age one. He became an Australian citizen in May 1974 and has since only travelled on an Australian passport.
Last night, Mr Roberts confirmed he first wrote to British authorities on May 1, 2016, while considering nominating as a One Nation candidate.
“I believe the constitution is very important,” he said, adding he got no response so in June 2016 he wrote to the British consulate renouncing his British citizenship, if it existed.
One Nation sources said Mr Ashby saw documentation of these exchanges before Mr Roberts was put forward for the July 2016 election.
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