Senate QuestionTime Burqa Stunt by Senator Pauline Hanson and Senator George Brandis' Response

Senator Pauline Hanson pulled off a stunt in the Australian Senate that many are calling outrageous, she wore a burqa into the Senate to bring attention to her campaign to have the wearing of the burqa in public places made illegal in Australia.

In the video Senator Hanson makes her entrance to the cry of "what on earth". Senator Hanson sits wearing the burqa until is was time for her to ask a question.

At this point she removed the burqa and continued.

Below is the text from the hansard:

National Security
Senator HANSON (Queensland) (14:24): I'm quite happy to remove this, because this is not what should
belong in this parliament. My question is to—
The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator Wong?
Senator Wong: I am awaiting the question.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, your question.
Senator HANSON: My question is to Senator Brandis, the Attorney-General. Senator Brandis, in light of the
national security of this nation, will you work—
Senator Dastyari: You're the risk.
The PRESIDENT: Order on my left.
Senator HANSON: to ban the burqa in Australia, considering—
The PRESIDENT: Just a moment, Senator Hanson. I need to hear the question, so can I have some order on
my left and my right. Senator Hanson, commence your question again.
Senator HANSON: In light of what is happening with national security—there have been 13 foiled national
threats against us from terrorism, three that have been successful, and Australians have lost their lives. Terrorism
is a true threat to our country, and many Australians are very much in fear of it. What I would like to ask on behalf
of the Australian people—considering a large majority of Australians wish to see the banning of the burqa—our
two former prime ministers, Julia Gillard— (Time expired).
The PRESIDENT: Order on my left.
Senator Dastyari: You're the risk.
Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Dastyari! And Senator Macdonald.
Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of
the Government in the Senate) (14:25): Senator Hanson, no, we will not be banning the burqa. Now, Senator
Hanson, I am not going to pretend to ignore the stunt that you have tried to pull today by arriving in the chamber
dressed in a burqa when we all know that you are not an adherent of the Islamic faith. I would caution you and
counsel you, Senator Hanson, with respect, to be very, very careful of the offence you may do to the religious
sensibilities of other Australians. We have about half a million Australians in this country of the Islamic faith, and
the vast majority of them are law-abiding, good Australians. Senator Hanson, it is absolutely consistent being a
good, law-abiding Australian and being a strict-adherent Muslim.
Senator Hanson, for the last four years I have had responsibility, pre-eminently among the ministers, subject to
the Prime Minister, for national security policy. And, I can tell you, Senator Hanson, that it has been the advice of
each Director-General of Security with whom I have worked, and each Commissioner of the Australian Federal
Police with whom I have worked that it is vital for their intelligence and law enforcement work that they work
cooperatively with the Muslim community. 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 to reflect on what you have done.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Order, senators. Senators on my left, please resume your seats. Senator Wong on a
point of order?
Senator Wong: If I could, by leave, make a very short statement.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, are you objecting to leave being granted?
Senator Hanson: Yes, I am.
Leave not granted.
The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator Wong?
Senator Wong: My point of order is this: if I had the opportunity, I would move to congratulate the leader of
the government for that statement. And I make this point on behalf of all of us on this side of the chamber: it is
Thursday, 17 August 2017 SENATE 57
CHAMBER
one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith; it is another to wear it as a stunt here in the Senate
chamber.
The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Senator Hanson, a supplementary question?
Senator HANSON (Queensland) (14:29): Is the Attorney-General aware that the burqa is not a religious
requirement at all? Will the Attorney-General then ban the burqa in this house for the future as a security risk.
Also, the fact is that the people of Australia have the right to see the face of a person that they elect to this
parliament. They are the person who is actually going to be making decisions in the parliament on their behalf.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, it is in the purview of the Presiding Officers, not the Attorney-General, to
determine what happens as far as security is concerned within Parliament House. The Speaker and I have made

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