🇦🇺 “Blatant Racism”: Pauline Hanson Suspended from Australian Senate Over Burqa Stunt
🇦🇺 “Blatant Racism”: Pauline Hanson Suspended from Australian Senate Over Burqa Stunt
The leader of the far-right One Nation party, Senator Pauline Hanson, was suspended from the Australian Senate on Monday, November 24, 2025, after she entered the chamber wearing a burqa as part of a controversial political stunt aimed at reviving her campaign to ban the Muslim garment in public places.
The move, which Hanson defended as a protest against the "oppressive" garb, sparked immediate and widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with fellow senators accusing her of "blatant racism" and deliberately mocking an entire faith.
I. The Stunt and the Suspension
The incident occurred during the final sitting week of the year for the Senate, injecting chaos into the proceedings.
The Trigger
The stunt was a direct reaction to the Senate’s decision to block Hanson's attempt to introduce a bill that would formally ban the wearing of burqas and other full-face coverings in public across Australia.
Moments after the bill was denied leave to be tabled, Hanson returned to the Senate chamber fully clothed in a black burqa.
The Suspension
When asked by the Senate President, Sue Lines, to remove the garment, Hanson refused to comply.
Refusal to Apologize: When Hanson doubled down on her refusal to apologize for the stunt, the Senate passed a motion to censure her actions, which stated they were "intended to vilify and mock people on the basis of their religion."
Suspension: The Senate subsequently voted to suspend Hanson for seven days, preventing her from returning to the chamber for the remainder of the sitting year.
The suspension followed a tense period where proceedings had to be suspended for over an hour and a half due to Hanson's refusal to vacate the floor.
This marks the second time Hanson has used the burqa as a prop in Parliament, having performed a similar stunt in 2017 while making the same call for a ban.
II. Widespread Condemnation from the Senate
Hanson’s action was met with harsh rebuke from both government and opposition benches, including powerful condemnation from Muslim senators.
Accusations of Racism: Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim woman, angrily called out the One Nation leader, stating, "This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism and Islamophobia."
Muslim Senators Speak Out: Independent Senator Fatima Payman, who wears a hijab, described the act as "abhorrent and disrespectful to the chamber and the public," accusing Hanson of trying to "weaponize the growing fear and uncertainty" in the community.
Government Condemnation: Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Labor government’s Senate leader, called the stunt "not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate" and said it mocked and vilified an entire faith, causing "cruel consequences" for Muslim Australians.
Bipartisan Rebuke: Even the opposition coalition's deputy Senate leader, Anne Ruston, criticized the act, saying Hanson's stunt "disrespects the Senate" and "cheapens our parliament."
In a statement posted after her ejection, Hanson defended the move as a protest against the parliament's refusal to debate her bill, claiming the burqa is "oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risks our national security and the ill-treatment of women."
The incident immediately intensified the national debate surrounding religious freedom, cultural tolerance, and the conduct of politicians in Australia's highest legislative chamber.
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