Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

My comments are basically going to be directed to the Australian people and those in the Senate that are here today to hear my comments. I am pleased now to be given the opportunity to explain myself. I was denied that right yesterday. Yesterday I brought up a bill to amend the Criminal Code to ban the burqa and full-face coverings in public places. I was denied the right to move that bill—denied the right. I was elected a member of parliament by the people of Queensland to represent them and the whole of the nation, actually, for that matter. I was denied the right by the Senate to move my bill, to actually debate it on the floor of parliament. You denied me and the people of Australia to have that voice. You chose to shut it down.

This is not the first time you've done it to me. You've done it a number of times. The parliamentarians that are here—the senators that were elected by the Australian people—dare question me over my respect for this place? The senators in this place have no respect for the Australian people when they have an elected member who wants to move something and to represent them and have a say. If there was no concern over banning of the burqa or full-face coverings, why did you stop me? Why not have the debate? Why not put your case forward? I would put my case forward, but you wouldn't even allow that. You decided what you wanted based on your pure own ideology of what you think is right. You disregard the people of this nation by not allowing me to have a say on their behalf. This has been raised to me many times.