Senator dons burka in fight to have it banned
A WOMAN senator campaigning to ban the burka provoked uproar by wearing one in Australia’s parliament yesterday.
There were gasps and a colleague cried “what on earth” as Pauline Hanson arrived at the Senate chamber in a burka covering her from head to toe.
The leader of the right-wing One Nation party then threw back her veil and called for the garment to be banned to fight terrorism.
Claiming the “large majority” of Australians support a ban, she said: “There have been 13 foiled national threats against us with terrorism, three that have been successful where Australians have lost their lives. Terrorism is a true threat to our country.”
But politicians from all parties gave a standing ovation to Attorney-General George Brandis, the Liberal leader of the ruling coalition, when he sharply rebuked Ms Hanson and said the ruling coalition had no intention of a ban.
“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 your behaviour,” he said. Even Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi, who backs a ban, said: “She made a particularly blunt point but I’m not sure it’s a point that should be made in the Senate chamber.”
One Nation proposes a Muslim immigration and travel ban similar to the one Donald Trump planned for the US.
Ms Hanson later said she had been trying to highlight “security risks”, adding that the burka is “not a religious garment” and is “oppressing women”.
She said: “This is brought in by men who want to cover up their women.”