Controversy Erupts as Australian Senator Wears Burka in Protest

Mon Nov 24 2025 20:16:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Senator Pauline Hanson stirs outrage in the Australian Parliament by donning a burka while pushing for a ban on the Muslim garment, facing backlash from fellow lawmakers.

In a provocative move, Senator Pauline Hanson, representing the One Nation party, wore a burka in the Australian Senate after her proposed bill to ban the garment was rejected. This act has led to a wave of condemnation from colleagues, with accusations of racism and disrespect towards Australia's diverse communities. Senator Fatima Payman labeled the stunt as 'disgraceful,' while the Foreign Minister denounced Hanson's actions as not representative of Australian decency. Hanson previously used similar tactics in 2017, indicating an ongoing contentious approach to discussions on immigration and cultural attire.

In a recent parliamentary session, Australian senator Pauline Hanson provoked widespread criticism by wearing a burka while advocating for a ban on full face coverings in public. The senator, representing the anti-immigration One Nation party, has faced backlash from fellow legislators, with accusations of promoting racism and disrespect for cultural diversity.

Hanson's provocative act has drawn sharp rebukes from her colleagues, including Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim senator from the Greens party, who condemned her actions as 'blatant racism.' Fatima Payman, an independent senator, referred to Hanson's stunt as 'disgraceful,' and Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized it as 'disrespectful' to the representation of all faiths and backgrounds in the Australian Senate.

Hanson's history of controversial statements includes her 1996 warning that Australia was at risk of being 'swamped by Asians,' and a similar sentiment expressed about Muslims during her maiden speech in the Senate. Her latest actions, wearing the burka in protest after the rejection of her proposed legislation, reflect a continuation of her contentiousness surrounding issues of race and immigration.

This incident highlights the ongoing struggle within Australian politics regarding cultural inclusivity and the portrayal of minority communities, with Senator Wong emphasizing the importance of decency in representing the diverse population of the nation.