Pauline Hanson accuses Lidia Thorpe of ‘shirt-fronting’

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has accused independent Senator Lidia Thorpe of “shirt-fronting” her in Canberra before telling her to “go back where you came from”.

In a new escalation of hostilities between the two women, Senator Hanson made the claims under parliamentary privilege on Wednesday night.

It follows the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Thorpe after she was photographed delivering a one finger salute in parliament and throwing documents on the floor.

After her suspension was voted on, Ms Hanson accused Senator Thorpe of directing “barbs and jibes” at her in the Senate chamber.

“I actually had to move across here to distance because I knew the issue that was happening,” Senator Hanson said.

“I was told, ‘Go back where you came from’, ‘you wouldn’t know, you white colonists’, ‘you have privileges’, these are the conversations when I was directing a question to the minister on education.”

The Brisbane born right-wing MP is an Australian citizen.

“This has been constantly happening here. So don’t tell me that I’ve done anything (wrong). I completely ignored her and I was happy to move from my seat to stop any aggression or problems (happening) in the Senate.

“But each and every one of you know that since Senator Thorpe has been in this place, it has been the downfall of this chamber because of her aggression, and calling each and every one of us who is white that we are colonials (sic) that have stolen the land.

“That’s why I’m pleased to see that something (has been done) to rein in what is happening in this chamber,” Ms Hanson continued.

“There’s been aggression that’s been shown by Senator Thorpe to many senators in this place.

“What irritates me is that when you have the Greens who are the champion in the workplace for women. What am I, not a woman? Shouldn’t I be actually protected as well? Or it’s when it suits you? That’s not good enough.”

Senator Thorpe has now been suspended from the Senate for the final sitting day for “disorderly conduct”.

Senate President Sue Lines confirmed the penalty on Wednesday night after formally “naming” her in the chamber.

It followed chaotic scenes, including Senator Thorpe appearing to throw papers in the chamber.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong then moved that Senator Thorpe be suspended on Thursday, the final sitting day of the year.

Senator Thorpe was even photographed appearing to “flip the bird” as she departed the chamber on Wednesday.

The Senate president said she wrote to Ms Thorpe at 4.30pm on Wednesday, offering her a chance to attend the Senate to explain herself or apologise.

However, Senator Lines indicated that Senator Thorpe chose not to attend the disciplinary meeting.

Earlier, Ms Hanson was described as a “disgrace to the human race” in the Senate.

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 – which includes being a dual citizenship – 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,” Senator Payman said.

She 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 appeal is now lodged with the Federal Court.

On Wednesday, Senator 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.”