Australian Senate suspends far-right leader over 'disrespectful' burqa stunt

Australia's Senate on Tuesday suspended far-right Senator Pauline Hanson for seven sitting days after she wore a burqa to Parliament as a political prop in her campaign to ban the Muslim garment in public, triggering condemnation from lawmakers.



Hanson wore the burqa in the upper house on Monday after she was denied permission to introduce a bill banning burqas and other face coverings in public spaces. Her action quickly drew accusations of racism from Muslim lawmakers.



Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who leads the centre-left Labor government in the Senate, said: "Senator Hanson's hateful and shallow pageantry tears at our social fabric and I believe it makes Australia weaker, and it also has cruel consequences for many of our most vulnerable".



"Senator Hanson mocked and vilified an entire faith, a faith observed by nearly a million Australians ... I've never seen someone be so disrespectful to (the parliament)."



A motion censuring the One Nation party leader passed 55-5.



One Nation, which has capitalised on rising nationalist sentiment and anti-immigration policies, has expanded its Senate presence to four seats, gaining two in May's general election. Recent opinion polls have shown support for Hanson and One Nation has further increased.