Pauline Hanson suspended from Australian Senate after wearing burqa in chamber
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson has been suspended from the Australian Senate for seven sitting days after wearing a burqa in the chamber to protest being blocked from introducing her bill to ban burqas. Hanson says she was denied the chance to debate the issue but remains determined to stand her ground.
- Hanson wore a burqa in the Senate to protest being blocked from tabling a bill to ban burqas; the stunt temporarily shut down proceedings.
- A censure motion was put forward by Foreign Minister Penny Wong; Hanson rejected allegations she disrespects Australians of faith.
- She received a seven-day suspension but said she remains steadfast in her stance and believes the public will judge her.
AUSTRALIA: One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson has been suspended from the Australian Senate for seven sitting days following a controversial incident in which she wore a burqa in the chamber.
Blocked Bill to Ban Burqas
Hanson’s action came after she attempted to table a bill seeking to ban burqas and full-face coverings in Australia, which the Government did not allow.
She has previously worn a burqa in the Senate during a similar stunt in 2017.
Censure Motion and Senate Shutdown
The incident prompted widespread condemnation from Senate members and led to a censure motion put forward by Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The Senate was temporarily shut down for nearly two hours yesterday when Hanson refused to leave the chamber, a move Wong described as “disrespectful.”
Hanson Responds to Allegations
During a five-minute speech in the Senate, Hanson rejected allegations that she disrespects Australian people of faith.
She acknowledged that her speech concluded earlier than intended and stated she was willing for a vote to be cancelled before leaving the chamber.
“You can cancel that division. The people will judge me at the next election,” Hanson said.
Hanson later told reporters in Canberra that she was upset at not being allowed to properly respond to the censure motion.
“I was denied that right yesterday on the floor of parliament to actually speak to it. I’ve tried to explain to the Australian people how I feel about it and why I stood my ground,” she said.
Defending Her Stance on Burqas
She reiterated her stance on banning the burqa and criticized restrictions on her ability to debate the issue.
“That is the heart of democracy, to allow me to move my private member’s bill to debate the issue and put it to the vote. They have denied me that right — not on this one occasion, but previously as well. There is no dress code on the floor of parliament, yet I am not allowed to wear it. To me, it's been hypocritical.”
Hanson Unfazed by Suspension
Acknowledging her seven-day suspension, Hanson remained unfazed, saying she would continue to stand by her beliefs:
“I’ll stand my ground and what I believe in, I will continue to do so. It will be the people that will judge me.”
Senate Schedules Final Sitting Day
The final sitting day in the Senate for 2025 is scheduled for Thursday.
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