Pauline Hanson’s decision to don a burqa in the Senate has sparked widespread condemnation from politicians across various parties, with concerns that the act could incite abuse and harassment towards Muslim women and girls.
The One Nation leader made her entrance into the upper house on Monday afternoon clad in the religious garment, following her unsuccessful attempt to pass legislation that would ban the Islamic covering in public spaces.
Hanson’s actions have drawn sharp criticism from parliamentary members, including those from the Greens, the coalition, and the crossbench.
Independent Senator Fatima Payman, who recently parted ways with Labor over its position on Palestine, expressed that such behavior contributes to a sense of insecurity among the public.
“This is an old stunt that Pauline Hanson has resorted to once more. It is highly disrespectful and goes against Australian values,” Payman shared with ABC News.
When questioned about the potential repercussions of Hanson’s actions on Muslim women, Senator Payman, who is Muslim herself, warned that it could lead to increased incidents of abuse or assault against school girls and women who wear hijabs.
‘There is bound to be people out on the streets, young school girls, who are probably yelled at or abused or assaulted, and it is just the division we do not want to see in society.’
Ali Kadri, chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, said: ‘Whenever Pauline Hason 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.’
Fatima Payman (back row) was in the Senate when Pauline Hanson pulled her new burqa stunt on Monday
Senator Payman – the former Labor representative turned independent for WA – slammed Hanson during the stunt
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, but I do recall a couple of weeks ago that there was a queue of neo-Nazis standing outside NSW Parliament,’ she told ABC radio.
‘Senator Hanson’s stunt yesterday is simply a guarantee that some schoolgirl wearing a headscarf’s going to get bullied on the train on the way to school today. I don’t see how it helps anyone.’
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the stunt weakened the controversial senator’s case and cheapened the nation’s parliament.
‘This is a reminded of how brittle One Nation’s politics are, they must resort to reheating desperate stunts,’ she said.
‘Australians deserve better and we will remain focused on fighting for them and holding the government to account.’
Senate President Sue Lines ordered Senator Hanson to leave the chamber for being disrespectful.
It’s the second time Senator Hanson has worn the burqa inside the parliament.
After first attempting the stunt in the upper house in 2017, Senator Hanson was slammed by then attorney-general George Brandis, who labelled it an ‘appalling thing to do’.
Speaking on the latest incident, Mr Brandis labelled it ‘despicable’.
Monday’s stunt (above) is the second time Hanson has worn a burqa into the Senate
Ali Kadri, chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, said: ‘Whenever Pauline Hason 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’
‘Every once in a while, she dreams up a new stunt to try and make herself the centre of political attention and discussion,’ he told ABC radio.
‘It reminds people both that the One Nation party has absolutely nothing to offer the Australian people, but also that the kind of politics they practice are ugly and divisive politics.’
Asked about the increase in One Nation’s popularity, Mr Brandis said he’s ‘not overly alarmed’.
Redbridge Group director and former Victorian Labor strategist Kos Samaras said the ‘permanent problem for right-wing populist outfits is that protest is easy.’
‘That only grows the base so much,’ he wrote on X.
‘Sooner or later you have to project a serious alternative, not just a rolling stunt show.’
