Australian politician Pauline Hanson has provoked widespread outrage after wearing a burqa into the Senate chamber, a move described as 'despicable' and 'un-Australian' by colleagues across the political spectrum.
Political Condemnation Across the Divide
The One Nation leader entered the upper house on Monday afternoon wearing the religious garment shortly after failing to move a bill banning the Islamic covering from public places. Senator Hanson's actions were immediately condemned by parliamentary colleagues from the Greens, coalition and crossbench.
Independent senator Fatima Payman, who recently quit Labor over its stance on Palestine, said the behaviour left others feeling unsafe. 'This is an old trick that Pauline Hanson's pulled out of the bag,' she told ABC News. 'Very disrespectful, very un-Australian.'
Real-World Consequences for Muslim Women
When asked what impact the political stunt would have on Muslim women, Senator Payman, who is Muslim herself, warned it would likely lead to schoolgirls and women wearing hijabs being abused or assaulted. 'There is bound to be people out on the streets, young school girls, who are probably yelled at or abused or assaulted,' she said, emphasising this creates division society doesn't need.
Ali Kadri, chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, expressed similar concerns. 'Whenever Pauline Hanson does these stunts in the Parliament, it escalates and radicalises people even more where people think that it is OK to abuse a little Australian Muslim girl wearing a hijab.'
Wider Political Reaction and Historical Context
Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek pointed to the issue of growing right-wing extremism in Australia. 'I don't remember the last time someone in a burqa robbed a bank,' she told ABC radio, contrasting it with recent neo-Nazi activity outside NSW Parliament.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the stunt weakened Senator Hanson's case and cheapened the nation's parliament, calling it a reminder of 'how brittle One Nation's politics are.'
This marks the second time Senator Hanson has worn the burqa inside parliament, having first attempted the stunt in the upper house in 2017. Then attorney-general George Brandis, who labelled the original incident 'appalling', described the latest repetition as 'despicable'.
Senate President Sue Lines ordered Senator Hanson to leave the chamber for being disrespectful, while political analysts noted the limitations of relying on constant political theatre rather than substantive policy offerings.
