BERK IN A BURKA
PAULINE HANSON’S LATEST STUNT
PAULINE Hanson’s “extreme” decision to wear a burqa in parliament has been condemned as an “appalling stunt” by her Senate colleagues, as Canberra again descended into farce yesterday.
The One Nation leader faced widespread criticism for turning Question Time into a circus by wearing the Islamic garb as she called for it to be banned, linking it to terrorism.
The Queensland senator later defended her actions, saying it had “opened up debate” on the issue.
And she said most Australians supported her views.
But her actions drew instant fierce criticism from Attorney-General George Brandis, who said the vast majority of the country’s 500,000 Muslims were “law-abiding, good Australians”, and the burqa would not be banned.
“I would caution and counsel you, with respect, to be very, very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other Australians,” an emotional Senator Brandis said in admonishing Senator Hanson.
Senator Brandis said it was vital that security and law enforcement agencies worked co-operatively 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 that,” he told Senator Hanson. Labor, Greens and some crossbench senators gave his comments a standing ovation.
Senator Hanson said assertions that she had been mocking the Islamic faith were “absolutely rubbish”.
“People have a right to their own faith and what they believe in – I’ve got no problems with that,” she said.
She said Senator Brandis’s words proved politicians were not taking the rise of Islam seriously.
“What I have done today is open up debate, and what Senator Brandis did today was just shut it down,” she said.
Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong congratulated Senator Brandis, saying it was “one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith”, “another to wear it as a stunt”.
Senator Nick Xenophon, accusing Senator Hanson of “toxic behaviour”, praised Senator Brandis for speaking “like a true statesman”.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie, who has also called for a ban on the burqa, said Senator Hanson’s actions had “divided and distracted us, at a time when we need unity more than ever”.