One Nation senator referred to High Court

One Nation has moved to refer one of its own senators to the High Court, bowing to pressure over questions he was a dual-citizen at the time of his election.

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts

One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has decided to refer his eligibility to the High Court. (AAP)

The Senate has referred a fourth senator to the High Court, with Pauline Hanson bowing to pressure over claims One Nation colleague Malcolm Roberts was a dual citizen at the 2016 federal election.

The One Nation leader was pressured to act after the Greens secured support from Labor and the crossbench to refer Senator Roberts to the Court of Disputed Returns on Wednesday afternoon.

It prompted a stern warning from Attorney-General George Brandis, echoed by Labor, that colleagues be "very careful" about questioning the eligibility of parliamentarians.

"I caution the Senate that it is a very dangerous course for this chamber or any parliamentary chamber to decide on what might be a party line vote, and in the absence of clear evidence, that a member of this chamber is not eligible to be here," he said.

"I have seen nothing, literally nothing, other than unverified and undocumented allegations in relation to Senator Roberts."

Senator Brandis pointed out this was the sixth senator of 76 to be referred to the court since the 2016 election.

"One might be forgiven for thinking that being a senator is one of the most hazardous occupations in Australia at the moment," he said.

Senator Hanson maintained Senator Roberts had her full support despite claims he held both British and Australian citizenship at the time of the election.

"I do believe he does have a right to stand in this parliament," she told senators.

Senator Roberts maintains he he took all reasonable steps to renounce his British citizenship before nominating.

"I'm looking forward very much to presenting my documents, tendering them in the High Court and let the High Court make the decision," he told reporters.

But he refused to discuss the documents or reveal the date he renounced his British citizenship.

Both senators have repeatedly denied he ever held British citizenship.

But in an immigration department document signed by Senator Roberts and dated May 8, 1974, the then 19-year-old notes he is a "British UK and Cols (Colonies)" citizen.

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale lashed out, insisting One Nation was dragged to take action by the Greens.

"There are serious questions about Senator Roberts' eligibility to be a representative in this parliament," he said.

"His story has changed more times than I've changed underpants."

The Queensland senator was born in Disergarh, India in 1955 and his family arrived in Australia in October 1962.

Senator Roberts has previously insisted he took steps to renounce any "possible" British citizenship before he ran for parliament but did not receive a letter back from British authorities until last December - five months after the election.

The decision comes a day after the upper house referred the cases of Nationals senator Matt Canavan and two former Greens senators over their dual citizenship.

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch said he spent a long time discussing the issue with Senator Roberts in his office on Tuesday but was not convinced.

"I think yesterday Senator Roberts was economical with the truth when talking to me," he told reporters.


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Source: AAP



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