Until today, Malcolm Roberts has insisted he was only ever an Australian citizen.
He's under pressure after Buzzfeed published documents showing he was once a citizen of the United Kingdom.
Buzzfeed says the immigration department document, dated May the 8th 1974, bears the signature of Malcolm Roberts where the then 19 year-old declares himself as a 'British UK and Colonies citizen.'
At a One Nation news conference in Canberra, Buzzfeed journalist Mark Di Stefano tried to get an explanation from Malcolm Roberts and Pauline Hanson.
(Di Stefano) "Senator, why did you lie? Why did you say you were never a British citizen when there are official documents that show that you were, when you were 19 years old you signed that you were British?"
(Roberts) "I was a citizen of the UK and colonies. We all know that back in the - I'm answering your question - we all know that back then that we were very strong members of the Commonwealth, we still are, we sang God Save the Queen until not long before then. I have always thought I was British, uh, that I was Australian, always thought that I was Australian."
(Hanson) "Excuse me, we're not going into this. As I said, it is a very complex case with regards to Senator Roberts, you don't understand the full situation so therefore I am not going to go into this. It will be decided by the High Court, so thank you."
In an exchange with the ABC's Chris Uhlmann, Senator Roberts repeatedly refused to say when he filled out a form to renounce his British citizenship and paid the associated fee.
(Uhlmann) "Senator, when did you pay your money and submit your form to revoke your citizenship?"
(Roberts) "These items, Chris will soon be before the High Court so we won't be discussing them."
(Uhlmann) "When did you pay your money and submit your form, it's a very simple question?"
(Roberts) "It is a very simple question, Chris and these items will soon be before the High Court therefore we're not making any statements."
(Uhlmann) "It's a simple answer."
(Roberts) "I just gave you a simple answer, Chris."
(Uhlmann) When did you pay your money, there's no other way -"
(Roberts) "Are you hard of hearing?"
(Uhlmann) "There's no other way of revoking your citizenship. What's the problem with telling us when?"
(Roberts) "The problem I've already discussed is the media have misrepresented, Chris, and that's the case even with the ABC."
One Nation's decision to refer the matter to the High Court came after the Greens and Labor indicated that they were prepared to combine on a motion to refer Senator Roberts to the High Court.
Senator Nick Xenophon says the matter seems worthy of being considered by the High Court.
"We believe there is sufficient evidence for this matter to go to the High Court. These are important issues. The Court of Disputed Returns needs to look at these issues in relation to Section 44. That is not to say that we have formed an opinion one way or the other on whether Senator Roberts has breached section 44 but we believe that the paper trail that the matter has presented indicate that it ought to go the Court of Disputed Returns."
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