Australian Senate erupts in anger after far-right lawmaker arrives wearing burqa

An Australian far-right lawmaker wore a burqa to Parliament on Monday, drawing outrage from fellow senators who accused her of racism.

Senator Pauline Hanson appeared in the burqa, a full-face covering worn by some Muslim women, after being denied permission to introduce a bill that would ban them in public.

Lawmakers erupted in anger as Hanson entered the chamber, and Senate proceedings were suspended when she refused to remove the garment.

“This is a racist senator displaying blatant racism and Islamophobia,” said Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim senator from the state of New South Wales.

Another senator of the faith, Fatima Payman of Western Australia, said it was “disgraceful.”

“She is disrespecting the Muslims out there, Muslim Australians, it’s absolutely unconstitutional,” Payman said.

This is the second time Hanson, who represents the state of Queensland, has worn a burqa in Parliament, having done so previously in 2017 when she called for a nationwide ban.

Her stunt came amid growing support in Australia for anti-immigration policies and rhetoric, with her One Nation party doubling itself to four seats in May’s election.

Hanson’s actions drew rebuke from across the political spectrum, including both opposition and government leaders.

“Whatever our own beliefs may be, the sort of disrespect that you’re engaging in now is not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate,” said Penny Wong, the leader of Australia’s center-left Labor government in the Senate.

Hanson later said in a Facebook post that she wore the burqa to protest her bill not being introduced, “so that every Australian knows what’s at stake.”

“If they don’t want me wearing it — ban the burqa,” she said.