PAULINE HANSON suspended from Senate over burqa stunt as MEHREEN FARUQI says parliament ‘drips in racism’

Wednesday, November 26, 2025 -Australian Senator Pauline Hanson has been suspended from Parliament for seven sitting days after entering the Senate chamber wearing a burqa in protest of her proposed ban on full-face coverings. 

The stunt sparked immediate outrage across party lines, with senators condemning the move as disrespectful and provocative. Hanson refused repeated requests to remove the garment, forcing the Senate to halt proceedings for more than an hour.

The Senate passed a censure motion by 55 votes to 5, effectively barring Hanson from representing Parliament in overseas delegations and limiting her participation in upcoming sessions. 

Critics argue the act was not only offensive but deliberately targeted Muslim Australians, while Hanson defended her actions as a stance on national security and women’s rights. The suspension is one of the harshest punishments for a senator in recent decades.

Public reaction has been swift and polarized, with commentators calling the stunt a stark example of rising Islamophobia, while Hanson’s supporters hail it as bold political theatre. 

The incident has reignited debate on the balance between freedom of expression, religious rights, and parliamentary conduct, keeping the spotlight firmly on the Senate’s handling of controversial protests.