Australia’s Parliament descended into turmoil on Monday after right-wing populist Senator Pauline Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa, sparking outrage among Muslim lawmakers and forcing the session to be suspended. The incident occurred shortly after her bill to ban face coverings in public was blocked by the Senate. During the heated exchange, senators demanded that Hanson remove the garment, leading to a suspension of proceedings when she refused to comply. Both major political parties condemned the act, with Labor Senate leader Penny Wong describing Hanson’s appearance as ‘not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate,’ while Opposition Deputy Senate Leader Anne Ruston also criticized the move.
The protest drew sharp criticism from Muslim senators, with Green party Sen. Mehreen Faruqi calling Hanson a ‘racist senator’ and Independent Sen. Fatima Payman labeling the act ‘disgraceful’ and ‘shameful.’ This was not the first time Hanson had worn a burqa in Parliament; she had done so previously in 2017 as part of her ongoing campaign against Islamic dress. Hanson has long been a vocal critic of immigration from Asia and multicultural policies, positions that helped establish her political career in the 1990s. Her One Nation party currently holds four Senate seats, a reflection of growing anti-immigration sentiment in Australia.
In response to the backlash, Hanson released a statement on her verified Facebook page, asserting that she wore the burqa to highlight the importance of her blocked bill. She argued that over 20 countries, including France and Portugal, have banned the burqa, citing concerns about women’s rights, national security, and social cohesion. Despite being barred from introducing her bill, Hanson insisted that Parliament should support the ban rather than silence her. Her past includes a 2003 conviction for electoral fraud, though it was later overturned, and she has previously expressed concerns about Australia being ‘swamped by Muslims.’ Her latest stance has reignited debates on multiculturalism, free speech, and the role of religious attire in public life, further polarizing political discourse in Australia.