‘Disgrace’: Parliament erupts over Pauline Hanson

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been described as a “disgrace to the human race” in the Senate during chaotic scenes, which culminated in independent senator Lidia Thorpe storming out and flipping the bird in the chamber.

In extraordinary scenes, the blow-up emerged after Senator Hanson sought to table documents she alleged went to the eligibility of Labor-turned-independent senator Fatima Payman to sit in the Senate.

Her accusation that Senator Payman was potentially in breach of Section 44 of the constitution prompted the following exchange.

“Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place, maybe it’s time that she pack her burqa, and go to Afghanistan, and talk to the Taliban about this,” Ms Payman said.

Ms Payman then accused Ms Hanson under parliamentary privilege of “racism”, before withdrawing the remarks.

“You’re not just vindictive, mean, nasty – you bring disgrace to the human race,” she said.

When Ms Hanson stood up to demand that the comments be withdrawn, Senator Thorpe then yelled across the chamber: “You’re a convicted racist!”

She was responding in part to Ms Hanson’s claim that Ms Payman’s documentation was “not good enough, it would not be good enough for anyone else here in this place”.

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi recently claimed, successfully, to the victim of racial vilification by Ms Hanson in a civil – not criminal – case.

Ms Hanson is appealing that decision and her defence is expected to be lodged with the Federal Court as early as today.

Ms Payman told parliament Ms Hanson had “no dignity whatsoever as a senator”.

“I am very honoured that I live rent free in Senator Hanson’s mind, but I think you’ve got better things to do than worry about Section 44,’’ she said.

Ms Payman then went on to recall some of Ms Hanson most famous speeches including her remarks that Australia was “in danger of being swamped by Asians”.

“If that is not racist, what is it?” she said as she addressed Ms Hanson directly.

“I kept on giving you the benefit of the doubt, Senator Hanson, despite your repetitive attempts to be racist to anyone who does not look like you,” Ms Payman said, before being forced to withdraw her remarks.

Ms Thorpe then theatrically tore up Ms Hanson’s motion in the chamber and threw it in her general direction.

“It’s another day in the colony, what can I say?” Ms Thorpe said.

“This absolutely disgusting behaviour. These people belong in this country, they are welcomed by my people.

“Why don’t you just bring back the White Australia policy and be done with it? I am sick of living in this racist country.”

Speaking at a press conference outside the chamber, Senator Thorpe said “this workplace is not safe for anyone who is not white”.

Ms Payman has held Australian citizenship since 2005. In addition, she still holds citizienship of Afghanistan, despite having attempted to renounce it in 2021.

As the Australian embassy did not have any formal communication set up with the Taliban-led Afghan government, it was determined Ms Payman had taken all reasonable steps required to renounce her foreign citizenship.

Ms Hanson has made multiple attempts to question Ms Payman’s citizenship, including writing to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

Ms Payman herself has previously stressed that the issue had already investigated and Ms Hanson was “wasting our time talking about a matter that has no basis”.

“All that Senator Hanson does in this place is spread hatred, spread division, because that’s what that’s what you’re made to do here, and it’s outrageous,” she told the Senate.

Ms Hanson, for her part, is not backing down.

“If she’d been elected in 2016 instead of 2022, she would have been referred to the High Court like all the others,” she argued.

“If she’d been elected as a conservative in 2022, I suspect she’d be referred right away.

“Try as they might, however, they can’t wish this matter away. I’m not the only one in parliament questioning the surprising lack of documents in Payman’s disclosure supporting her claim she took reasonable steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship.”

– with NewsWire