Pauline Hanson Discrimination Trial Begins for Alleged Racism

The case centres on a tweet sent by the One Nation leader telling another senator to ‘pack [her] bags and piss off back to Pakistan.’

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson in Buderim in Sunshine Coast, Australia, Sept. 21, 2017. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The trial of One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson for alleged hate speech begins in the Federal Court today.

The action, brought by Greens senator and party federal deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi, centres on a Twitter post by Ms. Hanson in September 2022. She is accused of engaging in unlawful offensive behaviour—racial discrimination.