Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is about honesty, transparency and accountability.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Contrast my behaviour prior to nomination with the ex-senators Ludlam and Waters, both of whom are lawyers—I am not.

Honourable senators interjecting—

They admitted they'd made an error, but they also admitted they didn't investigate. Before I signed that nomination form, I checked and took all reasonable steps that I believed necessary. I am accountable to the people I serve—the people of Queensland and Australia. Sadly, though, as I expected, and as the media has confirmed, elements of the media have misrepresented my position and statement—not once, not twice—repeatedly. Sadly, some senators have made false statements based on media claims. That is all they have. It is clear that MPs won't allow a review body. It seems highly unlikely that the review that I initiated, and that the Greens are now pursuing, won't occur. That leaves me with only one option for a fair hearing, and that is the High Court where I will be pleased to tender my documents.

In the interests of honesty, openness and transparency, and with support from Senator Pauline Hanson, I will tender my citizenship documents to the High Court to confirm that I was eligible to be elected as a senator to the Australian parliament. I am very confident I am eligible because otherwise I would not have signed that nomination form. In the days and weeks ahead, I look forward to other senators and MPs born overseas, or with parents or grandparents of foreign citizenship, following my lead. I am confident of my case and look forward to the process ahead. For now, though, it is business as usual. We have a lot of work to do in the Senate serving the people of Queensland, and Australia.