Foreign Minister Penny Wong has taken time out from ensuring the safety of Australians stranded in the Middle East to successfully censure One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in the Senate over her politically incorrect comment.
Fresh from dealing with fallout from the war against Iran, Senator Wong returned to Parliament on Monday and introduced a motion pushing for the chamber to censure Senator Hanson ‘for her inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to vilify Muslim Australians.’
In a dramatic speech, Wong said Hanson’s comments last month did not reflect the opinions of the Australian people, and listed the different types of Australians who follow the Islamic faith.
‘Nearly a million Australians practise Islam. They are doctors, nurses, teachers, small business owners, firefighters, police officers and veterans,’ Wong said.
‘They are parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, and the kids catching the bus home from school every day.’
Wong said her motion ‘draws a line’ and ‘sends a message to people of faith – and to every child in this country – that condemning an entire religion is not acceptable.’
Wong linked the debate to national cohesion.
‘Our words echo into classrooms, workplaces and communities. When we undermine social cohesion, we weaken the foundations of what makes us the best country on Earth,’ she said.
Penny Wong (pictured) said that the censure motion against Hanson drew ‘a line’
The motion also urges all senators to ‘refrain from inflammatory and divisive comments, both inside and outside the chamber.’
Hanson however, rejected the censure as political theatre.
‘This is a stunt and the people out there are fed up with it,’ she told the Senate.
Hanson accused Wong of hypocrisy following her earlier comments against an Opposition motion moved by Liberal Senate Leader Michaelia Cash regarding the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
‘There are about 115,000 Australians in the region. They are my priority, not Senator Cash’s motions,’ Wong said earlier on Monday.
Hanson then said her comments were framed wrongfully by Wong.
‘You don’t even know what I said. It’s been misreported. You don’t have the full context.’
Hanson said she would continue to ‘call out radical Islam’.
Pauline Hanson (pictured) dismissed the censure motion against her as ‘political theatre’
‘Let the people judge me. I’m not going to be judged by you – ever’
The clash follows Hanson’s recent television remarks questioning whether there are ‘good Muslims,’ remarks that prompted condemnation from across both sides of politics.
The government‑circulated text emphasises that Australia is ‘built by the hard work, sacrifice and aspiration of people of every race and faith,’ and that the Senate ‘reiterates its solidarity with those who have been vilified because of their faith.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe repeatedly interjected during Hanson’s contribution.
Thorpe could be heard shouting across the chamber, drawing warnings from the chair and adding to an already heated atmosphere.
She earlier accused Hanson of calling her a ‘b***h’.
Hanson said the government was trying to wedge the Opposition and damage One Nation with the motion, and suggested the government was deeply concerned about her party’s surge in the polls.
‘It sticks in your craw that One Nation is now on 27 per cent, 28 per cent. You can’t stand it,’ she said
Pauline Hanson (pictured) gave herself a slap on the wrist to conclude her speech
Hanson then slapped herself on the wrist – and asked ‘are you happy? I’ve given myself a slap’.
‘This is a joke,’ Hanson said, before walking out of the chamber.
Sunday’s Newspoll showed One Nation’s primary at 27 per cent, trailing Labor who were at 32 per cent.
The Coalition meanwhile were behind, at 20 per cent, up two points from a record low 18 per cent seen under former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
The move comes after the Senate censured and suspended Hanson for seven sitting days in November 2025 over a separate incident in which she wore a burqa into the chamber.
