Australian far-right senator wears burqa to parliament, sparking outrage

Independent senator Fatima Payman reacts as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, November 24, 2025. -AAP via REUTERS

SYDNEY: Australian far-right Senator Pauline Hanson wore a burqa to Parliament on Monday (Nov 24) as a political prop in her push to ban the Muslim garment in public, sparking accusations of racism from Muslim senators over the stunt.

Hanson wore the burqa shortly after she was denied permission to introduce a bill that would outlaw burqas and other full-face coverings in public places in Australia.