There were audible gasps as Ms. Hanson, who represents Queensland, entered the Senate chamber on Thursday, August 17 clad in the black garment, traditionally worn by Muslim women. Australia's Attorney General, George Brandis, was applauded by other senators as he condemned Ms. Hanson's stunt and "cautioned" her about deliberately offending Muslims.
George Brandis on the verge of tears as he tells Pauline Hanson her behaviour is "appalling". Standing ovation from ALP/Greens. #auspol #QT pic.twitter.com/KQpc6q5RVN
— Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) August 17, 2017
In 2016 a poll suggested almost half of all Australians wanted to ban Muslim immigrants. Ms. Hanson, who heads the One Nation Party, has been campaigning to get the burqa banned in Australia, which is home to around 500,000 Muslims.
One of Australia's most notorious burqa-wearers was Fatima Elomar, whose husband was killed fighting for Daesh in Syria in 2015.
"No, Senator Hanson, we will not ban the burqa," said Mr. Brandis.
"To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments, is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you reflect on what you have done," said Mr. Brandis, who was applauded by opposition senators from the Labor Party and the Greens.
"It is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith, there is another to wear it as a stunt here in the chamber," said Labor Senator Penny Wong.
Sam Dastyari, an Iranian-born senator, stood up for Muslim Australians.
"Muslim Australians do not deserve to be targeted, do not deserve to be marginalized, do not deserve to be ridiculed, do not deserve to have their faith made some political point by the desperate leader of a desperate political party," he said.
Ms. Hanson later removed the garment and her motion to ban the burqa was debated.
Social Media Reactions
Social media users reacted to Ms. Hanson's stunt by posting critical and photoshopped images of the Senator.
Amazing scenes as Pauline Hanson dons t-rex costume on Senate floor #QT pic.twitter.com/ZXl92trIPO
— Tim Bennett (@flashman) August 17, 2017
BREAKING: Pauline Hanson makes another speech #auspol pic.twitter.com/4fpvBaajnn
— James Scullin (@JamesScullin) August 17, 2017
Pauline Hanson involved in embarrassing costume mix up. #auspol@davrosz @MGliksmanMDPhD @KieraGorden pic.twitter.com/s8NFwFNHdx
— Harvey Mushman (@GreenCap13) August 17, 2017
Pauline Hanson kicks off #BookWeek pic.twitter.com/p9eBwrfz1F
— Simon Kennedy (@Simon_Kennedy) August 17, 2017
Burqa Ban Around the World
In her speech, outlining her position, she called on the government to ban full-face coverings in public places.
"The central issue in this motion, before the Senate, is the right of others to see a face. No one should be permitted to hide behind a veil of secrecy while there is a security concern," said Ms. Hanson.
"In Canada they have decided that a woman in a burqa can take the oath of citizenship," she said.
"In the UK they are now debating whether a patient in a public hospital has the right to see the face of a treating nurse or doctor," she added.
No such debate is going on in Britain. France is the only western country which has outlawed the burqa in public.
The legislation was passed in 2011 by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who said it oppressed women and was "not welcome" in France.
Several seaside towns in France have also banned the burkini, after Muslim women began wearing it on the beach.
Belgium, Holland and Bulgaria followed France in banning the burqa.
Earlier the Senate President, Stephen Parry, confirmed Ms. Hanson had been identified before entering the chamber.
Ms. Hanson has courted controversy ever since she was elected to parliament in 1996. In 2016, she was criticized for saying Australia was being "swamped by Muslims."
Many Aborigines, the original inhabitants of Australia, find her comments particularly hypocritical as it is a country built on immigration from Europe in particular.
