Australian senator wears burqa to parliament to call for ban

Australian far-right politician Pauline Hanson triggered a storm in the Senate on Monday when she entered the chamber wearing a burqa, using the garment as part of her renewed push to outlaw full-face Muslim veil in public.

Hanson appeared in the burqa shortly after being refused permission to table a bill seeking a nationwide ban on burqas and similar attire. It was the second time she has worn the garment inside Parliament as part of her campaign against Islamic clothing.

Her entrance immediately provoked outrage. Senators shouted in protest, and the sitting was briefly halted when Hanson declined to take off the garment.

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, who is Muslim, denounced the act as “open racism,” while independent senator Fatima Payman called it “a disgraceful stunt.”

Leaders from both major parties also criticised Hanson’s actions. Labor’s Penny Wong said the display was “beneath the standards expected of a senator” and moved to have Hanson suspended for refusing to remove the face covering.

When Hanson would not leave the chamber, proceedings were adjourned. Anne Ruston, representing the opposition coalition in the Senate, also condemned the incident.