Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Australian Senate Censures Pauline Hanson Over Burqa Protest, Suspends Her for Seven Days

The One Nation leader says the display answered a block on her bid to introduce a national face‑covering ban.

Overview

  • The Senate voted 55–5 that Hanson's wearing of a burqa was intended to vilify on the basis of religion and was disrespectful to Muslim Australians.
  • Hanson defended the act as a protest after she was refused leave to table a bill banning burqas and other face coverings, later posting, "If they don't want me wearing it — ban the burqa."
  • Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi and independent Fatima Payman condemned the move, and Labor's Penny Wong moved the successful censure motion.
  • Following a publicized dinner with Hanson, former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce left the National Party to sit as an independent and says he is considering joining One Nation.
  • Recent polling shows One Nation's support has climbed since May to around 18% in some surveys, as Hanson praises Nigel Farage and warns that England has become "unrecognisable."