Pauline Hanson has suggested a plebiscite on whether to ban the burqa as she labelled Australia ‘pathetic’ for giving up its values to allow the Muslim garment.
The Senate is debating a private bill from crossbencher Jacqui Lambie on Thursday to ban full-face coverings in commonwealth jurisdictions such as airports as well as the ACT and Northern Territory.
‘Are we that pathetic as a nation that we’re giving up our values and who we truly are because we’re worried about hurting someone’s feelings?’ the One Nation leader told parliament.’
It comes a month after Ms Hanson, who has been outspoken about her opposition to the burqa, was pictured in the Islamic garb when she walked into Senate chamber.
Pauline Hanson has suggested a plebiscite on whether to ban the burqa in public
The One Nation leader labelled Australia ‘pathetic’ for giving up its values to allow the Muslim garment
‘I’m quite happy to remove this, because this is not what should belong in this Parliament,’ she told politicians sitting during Parliamentary Question Time.
Her appearance was met with laughter and outrage, prompting Senate President Stephen Parry to call for order.
‘In light of our national security of this nation, will you work to ban the burqa in Australia?’ she said.
‘There have been 13 foiled national threats against us with terrorism, three that have been successful and Australians have lost their lives.
‘Terrorism is a true threat to our country. Many Australians are very much in fear of it.
‘A large majority of Australians wish to see the banning of the burqa.’
It comes a month after Ms Hanson, who has been outspoken about her opposition to the burqa, was pictured in the Islamic garb when she walked into Senate
Ms Hanson said the idea for her burqa stunt was born when Senate President Stephen Parry told her last year that anyone could wear a burqa in Parliament.
She said the burqa was an ‘important issue’ facing modern Australia.
In a statement released days after the stunt, Senator Hanson said the burqa ‘presented barriers to assimilation’.
She said the Islamic dress ‘disadvantaged women from finding employment, was causing issues inside our justice system, presented a clear security threat and had no place in modern Western society’.
In a statement released days after the stunt, Senator Hanson (pictured wearing burqa) said the burqa ‘presented barriers to assimilation’