Derryn Hinch says the barrister who uncovered the citizenship bungle that ended the parliamentary career of Greens senator Scott Ludlam was actually after him.
The crossbench senator renounced his New Zealand citizenship before the 2016 election and can't understand why Mr Ludlam didn't do the same.
Mr Ludlam last week revealed he had failed to renounce his NZ citizenship - a requirement of running for office - thus ending his 10 years in federal parliament.
"There was a change.org petition against Ludlam three years ago which should have alerted him," Senator Hinch told 3AW radio on Tuesday.
The former broadcaster said Perth constitutional lawyer John Cameron was actually after him, not Mr Ludlam.
"Ludlam was actually collateral damage," he said.
"He thought Hinch, the human headline wouldn't have complied and Ludlam would. It was the other way around."
Senator Hinch said he knew he couldn't run for office as a dual-citizen and Mr Ludlam should have known the same, especially when a campaign about Tony Abbott made headlines.
Mr Abbott on Friday released a letter showing he renounced his British citizenship in October 1993.
