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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| One Nation's Malcolm Roberts 'choosing to believe he was never British' | One Nation's Malcolm Roberts 'choosing to believe he was never British' |
| (6 months later) | |
| One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has attempted to clarify his citizenship status after a spokesman reportedly said he was “choosing to believe he was never British” . | One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has attempted to clarify his citizenship status after a spokesman reportedly said he was “choosing to believe he was never British” . |
| Since Roberts’ election in July 2016, questions over his potential dual citizenship have been raised given its potential to render him ineligible to sit as a senator under section 44 of the constitution. | Since Roberts’ election in July 2016, questions over his potential dual citizenship have been raised given its potential to render him ineligible to sit as a senator under section 44 of the constitution. |
| Roberts told Sky News on Thursday he had written to British officials on 1 May last year asking if he was a UK citizen. He said had no reason to believe he was British, but thought it best to double-check while filling out a nomination form for the Senate. | Roberts told Sky News on Thursday he had written to British officials on 1 May last year asking if he was a UK citizen. He said had no reason to believe he was British, but thought it best to double-check while filling out a nomination form for the Senate. |
| He said he received no response so wrote again on 6 June – three days before nominations closed for the federal election – saying that if he had British citizenship, he fully renounced it. | He said he received no response so wrote again on 6 June – three days before nominations closed for the federal election – saying that if he had British citizenship, he fully renounced it. |
| “I’ve taken all steps that I reasonably believe necessary,” he told Sky News. | “I’ve taken all steps that I reasonably believe necessary,” he told Sky News. |
| The British High Commission did not confirm Roberts had renounced his citizenship until 5 December, six months after he nominated as a Senate candidate. | The British High Commission did not confirm Roberts had renounced his citizenship until 5 December, six months after he nominated as a Senate candidate. |
| But Roberts said he was confident of withstanding a high court challenge to his eligibility. | But Roberts said he was confident of withstanding a high court challenge to his eligibility. |
| “Very confident, and I’ve received advice legally to the same effect. [I am] very pleased with that advice,” he said. | “Very confident, and I’ve received advice legally to the same effect. [I am] very pleased with that advice,” he said. |
| Roberts showed what he said were documents supporting his claims to Sky News presenter Paul Murray, but they were not displayed on screen. | Roberts showed what he said were documents supporting his claims to Sky News presenter Paul Murray, but they were not displayed on screen. |
| The case of the senator’s citizenship has got curiouser and curiouser in a week in which dual citizenship claimed its third victim in the federal parliament – the resources minister Matt Canavan. | The case of the senator’s citizenship has got curiouser and curiouser in a week in which dual citizenship claimed its third victim in the federal parliament – the resources minister Matt Canavan. |
| On 25 October last year, a spokesman for Roberts told Guardian Australia he was born in India to expatriate parents, but had only ever held one citizenship. | On 25 October last year, a spokesman for Roberts told Guardian Australia he was born in India to expatriate parents, but had only ever held one citizenship. |
| “Senator Roberts has never held any other citizenship other than his Australian citizenship,” the spokesman said at the time. “He’s had to obtain visas when he’s travelled to the United Kingdom and to India, and people who are citizens do not have to get visas.” | “Senator Roberts has never held any other citizenship other than his Australian citizenship,” the spokesman said at the time. “He’s had to obtain visas when he’s travelled to the United Kingdom and to India, and people who are citizens do not have to get visas.” |
| The matter sat there until this month when Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters resigned after they discovered they were dual citizens of New Zealand and Canada respectively. | The matter sat there until this month when Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters resigned after they discovered they were dual citizens of New Zealand and Canada respectively. |
| This forced the spotlight back on to Roberts and the other 24 MPs who were born overseas. Roberts again maintained he had checked with Indian authorities and he was clearly only a citizen of Australia. | This forced the spotlight back on to Roberts and the other 24 MPs who were born overseas. Roberts again maintained he had checked with Indian authorities and he was clearly only a citizen of Australia. |
| Last weekend the Australian reported that Roberts was on the General Register Office’s register of British nationals born overseas between 1818 and 2005, suggesting he also had British citizenship. | Last weekend the Australian reported that Roberts was on the General Register Office’s register of British nationals born overseas between 1818 and 2005, suggesting he also had British citizenship. |
| By way of proof, he signed a statutory declaration which in part stated: “I can confirm I am not a citizen of The United Kingdom, nor am I a citizen of India. I am a citizen of Australia only.” | By way of proof, he signed a statutory declaration which in part stated: “I can confirm I am not a citizen of The United Kingdom, nor am I a citizen of India. I am a citizen of Australia only.” |
| Less than a week later, Buzzfeed published documents purporting to show Roberts had travelled on a British passport as a child. | Less than a week later, Buzzfeed published documents purporting to show Roberts had travelled on a British passport as a child. |
| Then his story changed, when his spokesman said that Roberts had renounced any citizenship on 6 June. | Then his story changed, when his spokesman said that Roberts had renounced any citizenship on 6 June. |
| Asked how that squared with his previous statement to Guardian Australia, Black alleged he was misquoted. | Asked how that squared with his previous statement to Guardian Australia, Black alleged he was misquoted. |
| “The Guardian, as always, is most likely wrong,” Black told various media outlets. “They always publish nonsense and I have told them as much today.” | “The Guardian, as always, is most likely wrong,” Black told various media outlets. “They always publish nonsense and I have told them as much today.” |
| On Thursday, Fairfax unearthed a tweet which was sent the day after the Guardian story in which Roberts echoed his spokesman. | On Thursday, Fairfax unearthed a tweet which was sent the day after the Guardian story in which Roberts echoed his spokesman. |
| I have never held any citizenship other than Australian. When I travelled to UK & India I require a visa | I have never held any citizenship other than Australian. When I travelled to UK & India I require a visa |
| But his spokesman told Fairfax it was no contradiction. | But his spokesman told Fairfax it was no contradiction. |
| “He is choosing to believe that he was never British. He is preferring to believe that he was never British because he has no allegiance or exercised any citizenship arrangement. However they have renounced and released him of anything to do with them,” the spokesman said. | “He is choosing to believe that he was never British. He is preferring to believe that he was never British because he has no allegiance or exercised any citizenship arrangement. However they have renounced and released him of anything to do with them,” the spokesman said. |
| “There is nothing wrong or incongruent with Malcolm Roberts putting his hand up and saying as far as I’m concerned I’m not British, never was – the British government may have a different view.” | “There is nothing wrong or incongruent with Malcolm Roberts putting his hand up and saying as far as I’m concerned I’m not British, never was – the British government may have a different view.” |
| Guardian Australia sought comment from Roberts’ office regarding the latest development. | Guardian Australia sought comment from Roberts’ office regarding the latest development. |
| Malcolm Roberts | Malcolm Roberts |
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| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Law (Australia) | |
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