Pauline Hanson faces widespread condemnation after repeating ‘disgraceful’ burqa stunt in Senate | Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson wore the burqa once again in the Senate, repeating a previously widely condemned stunt as she sought to ban Muslim face coverings on national security grounds, despite not naming a single burqa-related security incident.
One Nation leader Hanson was expelled from the Senate on Monday for refusing to remove the burqa, in violation of a parliamentary resolution, prompting the chamber to be suspended. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan was condemned by all parties in the Senate for repeating the offensive display, saying Hanson’s display “humiliated” parliament and “mocked” Australian Muslims.
When independent senator Lidia Thorpe saw Hanson’s dress, she repeatedly intervened loudly and called for Hanson to be expelled from parliament. Independent Fatima Payman, who is of the Muslim faith and wears the hijab, accused Hanson of “disrespecting a faith, disrespecting Muslim Australians”.
“This needs to be taken care of immediately before we move on, it’s a shame,” Payman said.
Greens leader Larissa Waters described the burqa demonstration as an “insult”. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong said senators should not “disrespect the Senate” and said his behavior was “unbecoming” of parliament and politicians.
Liberal Senate leader Anne Ruston said: “You should not address this chamber that way” and called for respect for others.
The Senate resumed after a recess lasting more than an hour. Guardian Australia understands some senators are discussing whether to introduce a formal motion of no confidence in Hanson.
After her private senator was not allowed to introduce the bill banning the burqa in Australia, Hanson left the chamber and returned a short time later wearing a black dress. It sparked immediate outrage in parliament, with opposition politicians calling the move “old hat” and “been there, done that”.
It was a repeat of his widely criticized stunt in 2017, prompting the then Liberal senator George Brandis to angrily call out the One Nation leader for mocking the Islamic community, describing it as a “terrible thing”.
Conservative senator Canavan told the ABC on Monday: “Pauline Hanson needs new material because… she recycled this from eight years ago.”
“I don’t know if this is the right move for them because although it appeals to small segments of our society, I don’t think central Australia would appreciate having parliament corrupted like this.”
After Hanson refused to remove his face covering, the Senate voted to bar him from parliament until he complied. After being rejected again, the Senate was temporarily suspended. After the House was suspended, Hanson and the One Nation senators were the last to leave. He made comments to supporters in the public gallery, claiming he had been denied the right to present his bill.
Hanson and her One Nation colleagues held a fiery press conference in Parliament House shortly after she was expelled from the Senate for refusing to remove the burqa. While announcing his bill, he claimed that wearing a burqa was a “matter of national security” and stated that head coverings such as helmets should be removed when entering banks and other workplaces.
He denied that he was contributing to social unrest by repeating the burqa demonstration and said he was sorry he was not allowed to introduce the bill that would ban the burqa.
“We have a lot of problems with national security in the country,” he said.
But when asked how many national security risks he knew about face coverings such as burqas, Hanson said: “Might I suggest you call ASIO?” he said.
As further pressure was pressed for any details he was unable to provide anything.
“I can’t answer that question,” Hanson replied.
Hanson initially sat in the wrong seat early in the chamber as he re-entered the Senate, which had been reserved for a vote, and had to be quietly guided to the correct side of the chamber by a colleague.
Hanson posted a photo of herself on Facebook in her office in Parliament House, wearing a black body covering that extends down to her ankles, while standing in front of a large painting of her face.
“If parliament does not ban this, I will expose this oppressive, radical, non-religious hijab and mistreatment of women that endangers our national security in our parliament so every Australian knows what is at stake,” Hanson said.
“If they don’t want me to wear it, ban the burqa.”
