Federal police have confirmed they have received reports of a crime concerning comments made by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson about Muslims. An Australian Federal Police spokesperson stated that the AFP is aware of the remarks made during a media interview earlier this week and has received reports of a crime, but did not confirm whether a criminal investigation has been launched.
Bilal El-Hayek, the mayor of Canterbury Bankstown in western Sydney, called for charges against Hanson over what he described as 'highly inflammatory' comments. In his council area, over 23% of residents are Muslim. El-Hayek told the ABC that hate speech laws are 'quite clear' regarding public incitement of hatred and violence, and expressed concern that Hanson's remarks could incite someone.
During a Sky News interview on Monday, Hanson questioned the existence of 'good Muslims' while discussing Australian women and children stuck in Syria. She has not withdrawn the comments but offered a conditional apology. Hanson also singled out Lakemba, a suburb in Canterbury Bankstown, as a place where people 'feel unwanted'.
Lakemba Mosque, one of Australia's largest, received its third threatening letter in weeks ahead of the first night of Ramadan prayers. NSW police are investigating that incident, and a man has been charged over a previous letter sent in January.
University of Sydney law expert Professor Simon Rice said alleged hate speech can be prosecuted in any jurisdiction where the comments were broadcast. In NSW, it is a criminal offence to publicly threaten or incite violence based on religious beliefs, and under new state laws, to publicly incite hatred on racial grounds. However, Rice noted such offences are 'very difficult to prove'.
Hanson responded on Facebook, accusing Labor and the left of trying to use new hate speech laws to put her back in jail. She was previously jailed in 2003 for electoral fraud but released after 78 days when the convictions were overturned on appeal. Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor and One Nation colleague Barnaby Joyce distanced themselves from Hanson's remarks, with Joyce stating, 'of course, I think there are Muslims who are very good people'.
