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.
