Why did an Australian far-right politician wear burqa to the Parliament?

Australia’s Senate came to a halt for more than an hour on Monday after a far-right senator walked into the chamber wearing a burqa, triggering anger across Parliament.

Senator Pauline Hanson, who has pushed for years to introduce a national ban on burqas, was ultimately removed from the chamber for the rest of the day after she refused multiple requests to take off the face covering.

Her actions quickly drew criticism from many Muslim senators and other political leaders, who accused her of “blatant racism” and called the stunt “disrespectful”.

So who is Pauline Hanson, and why is she fighting so hard against burqas? Here’s a closer look at what happened and why it matters.

Who is Pauline Hanson?

Pauline Hanson has been a controversial figure in Australian politics for decades.

Her party, One Nation, currently holds four seats in the Senate, after winning two more in May’s general election. The party’s rise has been linked to growing support for far-right, anti-immigration ideas.

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Hanson first became a national figure in the 1990s, largely because of her outspoken views against immigration from Asia. She had argued at the time that Australia was “in danger of being swamped by Asians”. She has also long criticised multiculturalism and pushed for stricter immigration controls.

She has also sparked controversy over indigenous issues, once declaring: “there’s no definition to an Aboriginal,” and calling for “a big debate on this.”

For years, Hanson has opposed burqas and advocated for a ban on them and other full-face coverings in public places across Australia. She did the same act in 2017.

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What did Hanson do in the Senate?

The latest controversy began after Hanson was blocked from introducing a bill that sought to outlaw burqas in public places.

Shortly after, she entered the Senate wearing a burqa herself, sparking immediate anger across the chamber. Senators protested, and the sitting was suspended when Hanson refused multiple requests to remove the garment.

“A dress code might be a choice of the senators, but racism should not be the choice of the Senate. This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism and Islamophobia,” said Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim Greens senator, in comments to Reuters.

Pauline Hanson has worn a burqa into the Senate chamber on Monday afternoon, the second time in her parliamentary career she has performed the stunt.

Sadly, our Government didn’t get the message last time Pauline stated her case to ban it.

Aussies do not feel safe around people… pic.twitter.com/skuBphJdwA

— Lozzy B 🇦🇺𝕏 (@TruthFairy131) November 24, 2025

Fatima Payman, an independent senator from Western Australia, also criticised Hanson’s move, calling it “disgraceful”.

“For her to wear the burka, walk in, and just not listen to the procedures or the ruling that was given before her is typical of her trying to stay relevant,” she told ABC Radio.

She added: “The fact that this is the last week of sitting for 2025 and the Senate is suspended … where are the priorities of the government and Pauline Hanson?”

Leaders from both major parties condemned the incident. Penny Wong, the Labor leader in the Senate, said Hanson’s behaviour was “not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate” and moved a motion to suspend her. Anne Ruston, the opposition’s deputy Senate leader, also denounced the stunt.

What did Hanson say?

Hanson later issued a statement on Facebook, calling her actions a form of protest after her proposed bill was rejected.

She argued that she wore what she described as an “oppressive, radical, non-religious” garment to highlight the mistreatment of women and raise concerns about national security.

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

However, when asked by The Guardian to provide any specific examples of national security threats linked to face coverings such as the burqa, Hanson could not cite any. “Can I suggest you call Asio?” she responded.

Pressed again for details, she admitted: “I can’t answer you that question.”

With input from agencies