An Australian far-right senator sparked outrage on Monday after entering Parliament wearing a burqa, in what colleagues condemned as a racist and Islamophobic stunt. Senator Pauline Hanson donned the full-face veil—traditionally worn by some Muslim women—after being denied permission to table a bill seeking to ban such coverings in public.
🇦🇺🧕 Storm in the Australian Senate: Right-wing politician Pauline Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa to push her bill to ban the burqa. She was expelled from parliament and received severe criticism. #Australia pic.twitter.com/Fyx1S3UlQc
— 🔰 Military-News (@MilitaryNewsEN) November 24, 2025
Her appearance triggered an immediate uproar, with proceedings halted when she refused to remove the garment. Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who is Muslim, denounced the act as “blatant racism and Islamophobia.” Another Muslim senator, Fatima Payman, called it “disgraceful,” saying Hanson’s actions were disrespectful to Muslim Australians and “absolutely unconstitutional.”
This was not the first time Hanson, representing Queensland, has used the burqa in Parliament for political theatrics—she previously did so in 2017 while advocating for a nationwide ban. Her latest move comes amid rising support for anti-immigration rhetoric in Australia, with her One Nation party doubling its representation to four seats in the May elections.
Leaders from across the political divide criticized the stunt, including Senate Labor leader Penny Wong, who said, “Whatever our beliefs may be, the level of disrespect you’re displaying is unbefitting of a member of the Australian Senate.”
Hanson later defended her actions on Facebook, claiming she wore the burqa to highlight the refusal to introduce her bill, stating, “If they don’t want me wearing it — ban the burqa.”
Here’s how social media users reacted
🇦🇺 Far-right Australian Senator Pauline Hanson sparks uproar for racist protest wearing burqa to Parliament meeting to call for ban of Muslim attire. pic.twitter.com/DSsF2CyyiK
— Muslim (@Muslim) November 24, 2025
ABSOLUTE SCENES in Australia: Senator Pauline Hanson was refused permission to introduce a bill to ban the burqa.
So she decided to walk into the Senate dressed in a burqa and the leftists had a colossal meltdown.
Wonderful to watch. pic.twitter.com/SWZ5DVZW2G
— Lee Harris (@addicted2newz) November 24, 2025
𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐀’𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇
After the government blocked her bill to ban full-face coverings, Pauline Hanson walked straight into the Australian Senate… pic.twitter.com/nQPpx8e258— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) November 24, 2025
Right‑wing Australian Senator Pauline Hanson entered the Senate wearing a Burqa, after her attempt to ban full-face veils in public failed.
Senator, Penny Wong and other senators called it “racist” and “shameful.” Hanson has repeatedly sparked controversy over Islamic dress. pic.twitter.com/FKk89g9ixT
— Jahanzeb Wisa (@JahanzebWesa) November 24, 2025
Wdym Australian senator Pauline Hanson attended the Senate in burka to mock and disrespect Islam I’m in actual disbelief
— 🧚🏼♀️🌻Dreamy Girl 🌻 🧚🏽♀️✨ (@qwerfyyyy) November 24, 2025