Unrest in the Australian Parliament
Far-right senator punished after burqa attack
11/26/2025 – 02:37Reading time: 2 minutes
The leader and founder of the right-wing “One Nation” party wants to ban the Islamic veil. He is now causing problems with provocative actions.
By a vote of 55 to 5, the Australian Senate formally reprimanded right-wing populist Senator Pauline Hanson on Tuesday – and expelled her from parliament for seven days. The reason: The founder and leader of the right-wing “One Nation” party sat in the Senate on Monday and again wore the niqab, which is worn by women in some Islamic countries. There was great outrage in Parliament – not only because of Hanson’s actions themselves, but also because he showed disregard for the authority of the President of the Senate.
Hanson had attracted widespread criticism with a similar campaign in 2017. However, she came to parliament wearing a veil. This time lawmakers reacted with clear consequences. According to the proposed motion, the politician “deliberately attempted to ridicule and defame people based on their religion” and thereby “disrespect Australian Muslims.” He also defied Senate instructions and his behavior led to the meeting being canceled on Monday.
Hanson will no longer be allowed to be part of the international parliamentary delegation for the remainder of the legislative session and has been asked to publicly explain or apologize.
However, no apology. Instead, Hanson defended his performance in a five-minute speech. Your colleagues are hypocrites. “There is no dress code in Parliament,” Hanson said. The right-wing politician further complained that he was not allowed to submit a proposed law banning the burqa. “I stand by my beliefs and will continue to do so,” Hanson said in Canberra. The Senate previously rejected a bill proposed by the politician to ban the burqa.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said it was time for Parliament to hold Hanson to account: “This Parliament is now rife with racism,” she said. Hanson has fanned hatred against Muslims, Asians and people of color for decades – with tolerance from the major parties. “Now at least some people want to make a statement here.”
Statements from United Australia Senator Ralph Babet added to the irritation. When Wong reported in his speech about a child who asked after the incident whether Christians hated Muslims, Babet was heard shouting: “I do.” He later told Guardian Australia he said: “I hate radical Islam.” Radical Islam, according to Babet, has no place in Australia and is “a tool of radical Marxists to destroy Western civilization.”
Hanson has campaigned for a nationwide burqa ban for years and has repeatedly attracted attention in Australia for her racist comments towards migrants. According to the latest 2021 census, 3.2 percent of Australia’s approximately 25.4 million population is Muslim.
