Politicians and journalists alike were confused by Hanson’s decision to appear in Question Time wearing a burqa. She later dramatically removed the garment.
It was as shameful, and cringe-worthy, as you might expect.
Hanson pulled the stunt in order to draw attention to her motion calling for the ban of the burqa, due for debate later today.
A number of senators audibly voiced their disgust in response to her antics, but the big takedown came from George Brandis.
He said wearing the garment to deliberately mock a community was an “appalling thing to do” and urged Hanson to “reflect” on what she’d done.
“I am not going to pretend to ignore the stunt that you have tried to pull today by arriving in the Chamber dressed in a burqa when we all know that you are not an adherent of the Islamic faith,” he said.
“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.”
Brandis received a standing ovation from the opposite side of the chamber, including from both Labor and Greens senators. His own party were a little more subtle in their applause.
“Reflect on what you have done”: George Brandis receives standing ovation in the Senate after slamming Pauline Hanson’s burqa “stunt” pic.twitter.com/s55xNCTMjS
— triplejHack (@triplejHack) August 17, 2017
There is no point to be made here. Imagine how a young Muslim girl will feel having her faith and her family mocked in our Parliament. Shame pic.twitter.com/yFM2hunzo2
— Sussan Ley (@sussanley) August 17, 2017