Pauline Hanson, a right-wing Australian senator and leader of the One Nation party, has worn a burqa

Pauline Hanson, a right-wing Australian senator and leader of the One Nation party, has worn a burqa in the Australian Parliament on two separate occasions as a political stunt to protest for a nationwide ban on full-face coverings.
Key Events of the Stunts
First Instance (2017): In August 2017, Hanson wore a burqa in the Senate chamber for over ten minutes before removing it to advocate for a ban on national security grounds. This act was widely condemned by other lawmakers, including the then Attorney-General, who described it as an "appalling thing to do" that mocked Australia's Muslim minority.
Second Instance (November 2025): She repeated the stunt on November 24, 2025, after her request to introduce a bill banning burqas and other full-face coverings in public places was denied. When she refused to remove the garment, the Senate proceedings were suspended, and Hanson was suspended from the chamber for the remainder of the day.
Hanson's Rationale: Hanson defended her actions as a necessary protest to highlight what she called "this oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risks our national security and the ill-treatment of women".
Condemnation: The second stunt also received strong condemnation from politicians and Muslim leaders, who labeled it as "disgraceful," "racist," and "unacceptable". Critics, including the government's Islamophobia envoy, stated that such actions increase safety risks and harassment for Muslim women who wear the burqa.