Habiba Hamisi, 25th November 2025

Senator Pauline Hanson has again entered the Australian Senate wearing a burqa, repeating a highly criticised act she first performed in 2017. The One Nation leader appeared in the chamber shortly after the government refused her request to introduce a bill seeking a nationwide ban on burqas and full face coverings an idea she has promoted for many years.

Her appearance immediately caused tension in the chamber. Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong, Coalition Senate leader Anne Ruston and several crossbench senators condemned the act, prompting the temporary suspension of proceedings.

Australia’s Islamophobia envoy, Aftab Malik, said the stunt risked increasing harassment and violent threats directed at Muslim women, who he noted already face disproportionately high levels of abuse. Malik criticised the continued linking of Muslim women’s clothing to national security debates and said Islamophobia in Australia had reached “unprecedented” levels.

Hanson’s renewed push to ban the burqa was also rejected by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who described One Nation’s approach as relying on divisive culture-war tactics. She argued that regulating what women can wear should never be considered legitimate policy. Independent WA Senator Fatima Payman also condemned the act, calling it disrespectful to Muslims and inappropriate for Parliament.

Members of multiple parties voiced similar concerns. Wong labelled the behaviour unworthy of the Senate, while Ruston urged senators to show respect toward one another. Greens leader Larissa Waters described the stunt as insulting.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said Hanson’s actions undermined her own argument and would be viewed negatively by most Australians. He said mocking cultural or religious clothing was inappropriate and diminished the standing of Parliament.

Hanson later defended her decision, saying that her bill to ban full face coverings had again been blocked. She argued that similar bans exist in several countries and claimed her display in the chamber was meant to highlight what she views as risks associated with the garment. She said that if Parliament opposed her wearing it, they should ban the burqa.