One Nation’s Hanson Suspended From Senate Until Next Year After Burqa Stunt

Pauline Hanson has been suspended from the Senate for seven sitting days after returning to the chamber on Nov. 25 unapologetic about wearing a burqa in Parliament again.

The suspension—backed 55 votes to five—means the One Nation leader will not only miss the remainder of the Senate’s final sitting week of 2025 but also the opening days of Parliament when it returns in early 2026.

Hanson was sanctioned after refusing repeated orders to remove the garment or to leave the chamber on Nov. 24, forcing Senate President Sue Lines to suspend the sitting for about 90 minutes.

The stunt echoed her 2017 burqa appearance, which was then widely condemned across the political spectrum.

Facing reporters after the vote on Nov. 25, Hanson said she was “upset” she was not given more time to respond to the criticism directed at her comments in the 30 minutes leading up to the censure motion.

“Does it [the censure] really worry me? No, it doesn’t. For seven days, not at all. I stand my ground and what I believe in, I will continue to do so,” she said.

“I will be standing for the next election in Queensland, and I will let the people of Queensland judge me … I will not let these people here judge me.”

Hanson insisted the burqa is a cultural garment, not a religious requirement.

“It has been imposed on women that are forced to wear it by their male whether husbands, brothers, fathers, whatever, that they’re forced to wear it,” she said.

Government Moves Censure Motion

The Albanese government moved the suspension and censure motion, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong telling the Senate the stunt had real-world consequences.

Wong said a friend told her that morning about a conversation with her seven-year-old daughter. “Mummy, do all Christians hate Muslims?” saying it encapsulated the situation of the debate.

The government’s lengthy motion accused Hanson of behaviour “intended to vilify and mock people on the basis of their religion,” disrespecting the parliament, refusing orders to leave, and forcing the Senate’s extraordinary suspension.

It reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to a nation “built by people of every race and faith,” condemned religious vilification, and declared Hanson’s conduct “not worthy” of the Parliament.

It also said she should not represent the Senate on any delegation for the remainder of the Parliament.

Deputy Opposition Leader in the Senate Anne Ruston sought amendments reinforcing solidarity with Australians of all faiths and urging MPs and staff to avoid amplifying harmful actions.

“It is so, so important … that our actions, our behaviours, our words, all reflect what we would like to see as our proud society,” she said.

Hanson Stays Defiant

During her brief speech in the chamber before the vote, Hanson refused to apologise, instead accusing colleagues of disrespect.

“The parliamentarians that are here, you dare question me over my respect for this place?” she said. “The senators in this place have no respect for the Australian people when they have an elected member who wants to move something and represent them and have a say.”

Hanson reiterated that “wearing the burqa is not a religious requirement,” and said other countries had banned it.

Chamber Discusses Racism

The fallout ignited a wider debate about race, faith and political conduct.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said Australia had been “built by people of every race and faith” but urged caution about “pointing the finger across the chamber, calling each other racist,” saying it did little to advance the discussion.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi accused the chamber of letting racism fester for decades.

She noted Hanson had first staged the same stunt in 2017, when there were no Muslim senators; now, she said, “there are two,” including Fatima Payman.

“Finally, after three decades of piling on hate and racism … finally, at least some of us in this chamber want to hold Senator Hanson to account,” Faruqi said.