Judy Smith, who is the sister of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Credit:Robert Rough Fairfax Media understands the Turnbull government is now considering Senator Roberts' eligibility and is weighing up a High Court referral. If the High Court examines his eligibility and finds he was invalidly elected because he was a dual national, the Senate seat would fall to Mr Anning, a Queensland businessman who ran in the third position on One Nation's Queensland ticket. However, Mr Anning is the subject of a bankruptcy application lodged in the Federal Court on July 19. The constitution prevents people who are found to be bankrupt from serving in Parliament. Fairfax Media alleges no wrongdoing by Mr Anning and the application to make him a bankrupt may not proceed. But if the bankruptcy application is successful, the seat would most likely fall to Judy Smith, one of Senator Hanson's six siblings, who ran on the largely unwinnable fourth position on the ticket.

Pauline Hanson announces her 2004 Senate run alongside sister Judy Smith. Credit:Andy Zakeli Ms Smith describes herself as "extremely proud of her sister" and has "always been by Pauline's side, giving her full support". "Judy share the same values as Pauline and would like to help strengthen her cause in the Senate, by her side," the One Nation website notes. The Federal Court website listing the application. Fairfax Media has attempted to contact Mr Anning for comment.

According to the One Nation website, Mr Anning has a lengthy business history. Fraser Anning, who was third on One Nation's Queensland Senate ticket. Credit:One Nation "Fraser has always closely followed politics in this country and believes now is the time for a change stating, 'we need to get Australia back on track with real people in government instead of the privileged fools we have in power now'," the page says. His biography notes he is married to "Fiona". The bankruptcy application was lodged by ABL Nominees Pty Ltd. Mr William Fraser Anning and Mrs Fiona Ruth Anning are listed as a respondents.

The matter will first be heard in court on August 22. The application relates to Great Southern Ltd, a managed investment scheme that collapsed in 2009. Thousands of investors faced financial ruin after the collapse of the scheme, which had invested in agricultural business including timber plantations and cattle properties. Mr Anning is being pursued by the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. In 2016 a Senate inquiry recommended that the bank should give special consideration to borrowers who took out loans to invest in the failed agribusiness scheme. "Even though banks were not directly involved in arranging the loans ... they absolutely owed a duty of care to borrowers," the Senate report said. ​After more than a week of intense pressure to explain his citizenship status, Senator Roberts conducted a television interview late on Thursday in which he attempted to map out the timeline of his renunciation.

He revealed he did not receive confirmation from British authorities that his renunciation had been successful until December 5 - a full six months after he nominated as a candidate and five months after the election.



Anne Twomey from the University of Sydney said Senator Roberts must clear up two pressing questions - when his renunciation took effect and exactly what steps he took before nominating to renounce. "It would be significant if that renunciation took effect after the nomination date. The legal status of renunciation is a matter of UK law - not a matter of what Senator Roberts 'chooses to believe'," Professor Twomey said. "The second question is whether he had taken 'all reasonable steps' to renounce his foreign citizenship before the nomination date. If there was a formal procedure to do so and he did not comply with that procedure before the nomination date, then it is arguable that he did not take all reasonable steps." University of New South Wales expert George Williams agrees the key question is exactly what Senator Roberts did prior to nomination. "Did he merely email, or did he take all steps to fill in the relevant UK forms in good time for his citizenship to be renounced prior to his nomination?

"If you took every reasonable step, including complying with all of the UK processes, but they unreasonably delayed, then he may survive. If, on the other hand, he merely emailed, or left things too late, then he is likely to be disqualified." Professor Williams said: "There is enough here to cast real doubt over his eligibility to remain in the Senate. His case, along with the others, should be referred to the High Court." Fairfax Media put some of these questions to Senator Roberts' office but they have refused to answer. Senator Roberts' senior media adviser, Sean Black, threatened to report journalists to police. "Your persistent emails, despite requests to stop, is classified by our office as stalking," Mr Black said in an email.

"Any continued pestering or harassment from you or your colleagues of anyone, including me, from our office or organisation will be referred to the Queensland police. Loading "This issue is now over. Stop the harassment. Please find another victim." Follow us on Facebook