Well, Pauline Hanson showed up in the Senate wearing a burqa.
What was the point she was making? Who bloody knows. But she did it. So there’s that.
Here’s the video of Pauline Hanson wearing a burqa in the Senate. The reaction of the Liberal senators was mouth open shock. pic.twitter.com/85eh8LW9Iz
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) August 17, 2017
She ostensibly was doing it to make some vague point about national security and the inability of people to be properly identified while wearing one. But her argument kind of falls apart thanks to the fact that she very much did identify herself – as is the security custom of the Senate – before entering. So… the system works? Is that your point, Pauline?
https://twitter.com/ellinghausen/status/898035506470047746
President of the Senate Stephen Parry made this clear soon after Hanson entered wearing the burqa. “I’ve been informed by the attendant that the identity of Senator Hanson was established before she entered the chamber,” Parry says in the video.
“I’m just going to reflect on the mode of dress that Senator Hanson is using, but we’ll continue with Question Time.”
Attorney-General George Brandis took Hanson to task for her stunt:
I’m not going to pretend to ignore the stunt you tried to pull today. We all know you are not an adherent to the Islamic faith. I caution and counsel you, with respect, to be very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other Australians. We have about half a million Australians in this country of the Islamic faith, and the vast majority are good, law-abiding Australians.
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 what you have done.
Penny Wong backed Brandis’ statement, and it got a standing ovation from the Senate. Here’s the visual:
George Brandis on the verge of tears as he tells Pauline Hanson her behaviour is “appalling”. Standing ovation from ALP/Greens. #auspol #QT pic.twitter.com/KQpc6q5RVN
— Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) August 17, 2017
Nice, George. Doesn’t quite get you off the hook for all those refugee abuses, but lovely words nonetheless.
Wonderful work, Pauline. You made a truly incredible point about the efficacy of the Senate’s existing security and identification systems.
