Australian politician fails to overturn racial vilification ruling over telling Muslim senator to go back to Pakistan

A prominent far-right Australian politician, Senator Pauline Hanson, has failed in her bid to overturn a racial vilification finding. The ruling stemmed from comments she made in 2022, telling Pakistan-born Senator Mehreen Faruqi to "pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan."

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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 piss off back to Pakistan.

The dispute arose after Faruqi, a Greens senator, commented on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calling her the "leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised people." Hanson responded on social media, asserting that Faruqi had taken advantage of Australia and was unhappy, thus should leave.

In 2024, the Federal Court of Australia ruled that Hanson's remarks constituted a "strong form of racism." The judge determined that Hanson's post was reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate, and intimidate Faruqi, as well as other Muslim Australians and people of color who had migrated to the country, thereby breaching Australia's racial discrimination laws.

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strong form of racism

Hanson appealed the decision, contending that her comments did not violate the law and that the law itself was constitutionally invalid. However, her appeal was dismissed on Monday. Following the court's decision, Hanson stated she was "incensed by the incredible disrespect" shown to the late Queen and simply wanted to call it out. Despite legal challenges, Hanson's One Nation party has seen a surge in popularity, with polls indicating it is now one of Australia's most popular parties.

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I was incensed by the incredible disrespect that I felt was shown to our late Queen on the day of her death by Senator Faruqi and others. I simply wanted to call that out.