Following the outrage, Hanson shared a statement on her Facebook page, asserting that more than 20 countries have banned the burqa due to its perceived risks of oppressing women and posing national security threats. She argued that if Parliament would not support her bill, she would ‘display this oppressive, radical, nonreligious head garb’ to highlight the stakes. France and 21 other countries, including Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Portugal, have already implemented burqa bans according to Reuters.
Her actions were strongly criticized by Muslim senators, including Green Party Sen. Mehreen Faruqi, who denounced the move as ‘racist,’ and Independent Sen. Fatima Payman, who called it ‘disgraceful’ and ‘shame.’ The incident marked the second time Hanson had worn a burqa in Parliament, a move that has become a central aspect of her political identity following her long campaign against Islamic dress.
Hanson’s political career has long been intertwined with anti-immigration rhetoric, and her One Nation party currently holds four Senate seats after gaining two in May’s national election. She left Parliament in 1998 after losing her seat and was jailed in 2003 on electoral fraud charges, though the conviction was later overturned. Despite her tumultuous history, she has managed to maintain a significant political influence, with her comments on immigration and multiculturalism continuing to shape the Australian political landscape.