Pauline Hanson has been referred to human rights body over ‘p**s off back to Pakistan’ comment
Published
| Last updated
Pauline Hanson has been referred to the Human Rights Commission off the back of her ‘p**s off back to Pakistan’ comments directed at fellow Senator Mehreen Faruqi
The Greens had tabled a motion earlier this week calling for the Senate to censure Hanson for her racist and ‘anti-migrant’ comments directed at Mehreen Faruqi.
The censure motion was instead amended by Labor and the Coalition to instead call for respectful debate and removed Hanson’s name and her slurs.
Racism must be identified and called out every time, and people who spew such hate must face serious consequences. That’s why I moved to censure Senator Hanson in the Senate today. pic.twitter.com/HBiJBeY11h
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) September 27, 2022
Faruqi claimed the amendment allowed the One Nation leader off ‘scot-free’.
As a result, the Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens said she would pursue the matter with the Australian Humans Rights Commission, according to Vice.
Ms Faruqi told The Project: "At the very least I'm hoping for an outcome that holds Senator Hanson accountable and forces her to face some consequences."
Adding: "As a start, an apology and a retraction of what she said."
Pauline Hanson has been referred to Australian Human Rights Commission after drama on the floor of parliament over a tweet. Greens Senator @MehreenFaruqi made the referral, but what is she hoping will be done? pic.twitter.com/qAUbAiOXEL
— The Project (@theprojecttv) September 28, 2022
It's her hope that the Human Rights Commission will do what the Senate failed to do.
Faruqi had told the Senate: “I have the right to talk about this history without being racially vilified. It is insulting and it is humiliating.”
She added: “We’ve got to name and shame racism and the perpetrators of racism.”
Following the amendment, Labor Senate leader Penny Wong condemned the comments, however, warned against censure motions on attacks made on social media.
During the meeting at the Senate, Senator Hanson defended her remarks and offered up no form of retraction, according to news.com.au.
She told the meeting: “I didn’t refer to the Senator’s race or imply she had inferior characteristics due to her race or country of origin.
“I only suggested that because she is so obviously unhappy in her adopted country with her privileged position, she should go back to Pakistan.”
The Senator continued: “As I have explained myself, I will not retract what I’ve told Senator Faruqi. She can do and go where I’ve what I’ve said. I make the offer also, to take her to the airport.”
Faruqi had earlier this month been critical of the British monarchy in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Condolences to those who knew the Queen.
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) September 9, 2022
I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples.
We are reminded of the urgency of Treaty with First Nations, justice & reparations for British colonies & becoming a republic.
She tweeted on September 9: “Condolences to those who knew the Queen.
“I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples.
“We are reminded of the urgency of Treaty with First Nations, justice & reparations for British colonies & becoming a republic.”
The Australian reported that a few hours later, Senator Hanson expressed her disgust over her commentary on the late monarch by tweeting: “Your attitude appals and disgusts me. When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country.
“You took citizenship, bought multiple homes, and a job in a parliament. It’s clear you’re not happy, so pack your bags and p*** off back to Pakistan.”
