Justice Minister Michael Keenan hits back at dual citizenship claims

Justice Minister Michael Keenan has hit back at claims he could hold dual citizenship.

A Fairfax Media investigation claimed he may have inherited British citizenship from his father, who was born in England in 1943.

However, Mr Keenan tweeted early on Thursday morning that he renounced his citizenship in 2004, before he entered parliament.

His father moved to Australia where Mr Keenan was born in 1972, making it possible for him to be a British citizen by descent.

Mr Keenan's office said on Wednesday that he does not hold citizenship of any other country, but did not release any documents to prove it.

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Mr Keenan is the third Turnbull minister to be questioned over possible dual citizenship, as Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce waits for the High Court to decide if he can stay in parliament because he was a dual citizen when he was elected.

Mr Joyce told parliament that authorities in Wellington said he could renounce the New Zealand citizenship he was found to hold, unknowingly acquired from his Dunedin-born father.

He confirmed this week that he had renounced his New Zealand citizenship but the matter will still go to the High Court.

Mr Keenan's office told Fairfax that he is an “Australian citizen and does not hold citizenship of any other country" at the time of the story.

Australia’s constitution bars dual citizens from eligibility for elected office unless they can show they have taken legitimate steps to sever foreign ties.

The political citizenship saga has strengthened the case for an audit of the citizenship of all members of parliament and senators.