One Nation leader Pauline Hanson faces second censure over Muslim comments

Pauline Hanson has stormed out of the Senate, giving herself a slap on the wrist, moments before her second censure motion over comments about Muslim Australians passed. It comes after the One Nation leader was censured for seven days late last year after wearing a burqa to the Senate, meaning she was unable to vote on Labor’s hate speech and firearms reforms. This time, Labor sought to censure Senator Hanson over comments she made on Sky News, during which she asked: “How can you tell me there are good Muslims?” With support from Labor, the Greens, and Liberal moderates, Senators Andrew McLachlan and Paul Scarr, the censure was passed 36 to 17. Coalition Senators Michaelia Cash, Jane Hume, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price were among the dissenters – however, Senator Cash earlier indicated the Coalition would back symbolic aspects of the motion, which were carved out and passed on voice. Addressing the motion, Senator Hanson claimed it was a waste of time and a “stunt”. After about 10 minutes, the Queensland Senator slapped her wrist, stating “You know what? There, are you happy? “I’ve given myself a slap”. She proceeded to storm out of the chamber as debate continued. Senator Hanson earlier claimed she was misquoted. “Do you really even know what I said, because its been misreported a lot by the media? “You don’t even know the full context of what was said.” She also lashed Labor, stating “all you’re worried about is the preferences”. “Are you going to get preferences. Are you doing preference deals with One Nation?” “The fact is, in your gut, that you can’t stand the fact is that One Nation is now on 27- 28 per cent (polling). You can’t stand it.” She went on to blast the government as “gutless” and claimed there were imams “on our streets spilling hate”. “You’re all so gutless because you rely on votes from these people,” she said. “You are so un-Australian. “The people out there will actually judge One Nation and my comments. Let the people judge me. I’m not going to be judged by you.” Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, speaking to the motion earlier, said Australians expected their elected representatives “to set the standard for our country and to show basic respect for all Australians”. Senator Wong said to “say there were no good Muslims, is to say there are no good Australians amongst them, is to tell a child no matter how hard they study, they how kindly they treat others, how much they love this country, they will never belong.” “Nearly a million Australians practice Islam,” she said. “They are doctors, nurses, tradies, teachers, small business owners, firefighters, police officers and veterans. “They are imams, community leaders and role models. “They are parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters. “They’re the kids catching the bus home from school every day. “And, they are the first to condemn the radical extremists who commit terrorist act in the name of religion.” Senator Wong decried Coalition Senators “who contemplate working with them (One Nation)”. “There was a time when leaders understood some lines should not be crossed,” she said. “Now, we see a different approach – a race to outflank Senator Hanson to the right, and a willingness to echo the language and legitimise politicians who target people of faith, and in doing so, they shift the boundaries of what is acceptable, and they allow a noisy fringe to define Australian values.” Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash said the Coalition would only support portions of the censure motion. “I don’t think Senator Hanson’s comments were appropriate. Why? Because I personally have Muslim friends,” she said. However, she said “censure is usually reserved for conduct relating to parliamentary and ministerial responsibility “. “The censure is one of the Senate’s most serious institutional sanctions, and it should therefore be rare and sober, not used as a routine tactic to score political points,” she said. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe called for an amendment which would see the Senate urge the government commit to implementing the National Anti-racism Framework as a matter of urgency, and claimed the motion was “nothing but a cynical wedge”. “A cheap political stunt designed to undermine the coalition’s chances in the fairer by election. “Labor wants to highlight Hanson’s racism to prevent the coalition and One Nation from doing a preference deal in that election, because a preference deal will mean that the Coalition is more likely to retain the seat. “It is cheap politics, and it is insulting to all of us who experience racism on a daily basis.” Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who took Senator Hanson to court, said: “Pauline Hanson is a racist. She has always been a racist”. She went on to lash Anthony Albanese for failing to “even call One Nation racist and hateful party that they are”. “What are you scared of?” She asked. Senator Faruqi noted the motion did not mention Islamophobia. “That’s how much you care about an anti-Muslim hate. “What we are seeing here today is the predictable outcome of years of escalating hostility towards Muslims. “One Nation thrives in this environment, cultivated by successive Labor and Liberal governments.” She continued: “We won’t let you hide behind this cloak of a performative motion when you have been part and parcel of the rising Islamophobia and hate that is in this country now. “So let us censure Senator Hanson for her vile words. But let us not pretend that this is enough.”