Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to request that you review your earlier ruling, because, clearly, what has happened today is not a genuine demonstration of faith. In fact, it is the middle finger to people of faith. It is extremely racist and unsafe, and I would like you to reconsider your earlier ruling—that it is not appropriate in this Senate to draw attention to a religion that this person does not even subscribe to. It is an insult, and it must be against the standing orders. I would like you to review your earlier ruling.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will absolutely review it. I will also refer it to the President. I'm happy to step out of the chair for the President.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to ask that you reflect the ruling of Senator Parry when in the President's chair in relation to a similar stunt by this senator in this place. I would remind those who may not have been here of what the then leader of the government, Senator Brandis, said at the time: 'Senator, I am not going to pretend to ignore the stunt that you have tried to pull today by arriving in the chamber dressed in a burqa when we all know you are not an adherent of the Islamic faith. I would caution and counsel you, with respect, to be very, very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other Australians. We have many Australians in this country who are adherents of the Islamic faith, and the great majority of them are law-abiding Australians—good Australians, Senator Hanson, and it is absolutely consistent with being a decent Australian and being a strict and adherent Muslim.'

Senator Hanson, I would say this to you—and this is me now, not Senator Brandis, with whose remarks I concur, and it was one of the occasions in this chamber where the then opposition backed the government of the day to stand against this sort of stunt. What I would say to you, President, is that Senator Hanson and all of us in this place have a great privilege in coming into this chamber. We represent, in our states, people of every faith and of all backgrounds, and we should do so decently. What we should not do in this place, whatever views we may have on policy, is to be this disrespectful of the chamber and of people of faith, whatever our own beliefs may be. The sort of disrespect that you are engaging in now is not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate, and it should not be allowed to stand.

I ask, President, that you take advice from the Clerk, and I'd refer you to the ruling of Senator Parry when he was the President in relation to precisely the same issue that we are seeing today.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, what I intend to do is to hear from Senator Ruston as the opposition spokesperson, and then I am going to indicate to the chamber what Senator Parry ruled.

Senator Faruqi, please resume your seat. I've indicated to the chamber what I intend to do. What the chamber does after that is entirely up to the chamber, but I've indicated to the chamber what I intend to do, so please resume your seat.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think all of us in this place probably need to remember that the respect of this chamber is incumbent on every single one of us. There are ways that you can reflect and express yourself in this chamber without going to the extent that we have seen today. Whilst I respect the very strongly held views of many in this chamber—and many of them differ, and many people have very strong views that are opposed to other people's very strong views—the one thing that we must always do in this place is respect others. I would respectfully suggest to Senator Hanson that this is not the way that you should be addressing this chamber. This is not a respectful way to address other people. Whilst I haven't had in the timeframe the opportunity to reflect on the decision of Senator Parry when he was in the chair or the comments that were made by Senator Brandis when he was the leader of the government in this place, I recall that the foundation of everything that was said by Senator Parry and by Minister Brandis at the time was about respecting this institution and respecting the views of others, not to disrespect them by coming in and performing stunts which have no other purpose than to do that. I think maybe today we should all reflect on respect for each other in this place.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I am advised that this has occurred in the past, and Senator Parry was the President at the time. He ruled that using a religious icon, religious dress or anything to do with a religion as a prop and not in the proper way that it is expected to be used was disrespectful to the parliament. At that time, he asked Senator Hanson to either remove the item of clothing that she was wearing or risk suspension. I intend to uphold the ruling of Senator Parry and ask Senator Hanson to remove herself from the chamber, remove the clothing and come back dressed appropriately or risk suspension, and she certainly will not be heard if she doesn't remove herself from the chamber. Thank you, senators. I am advised that, because we are on a point—

Senator Hanson, you will not be heard. I've repeated the order that Senator Parry gave, and I understand—

Senator Hanson! I'm going to call on the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask that we move to the next item of business, President.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe we're up to general business 246. Senator Askew?

Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I understand that—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just a moment. Senator Thorpe, you're not helping the matter, so I would ask you to restrain yourself. Senator Thorpe, I've issued the order.

Senator Hanson, if you don't remove yourself from the chamber—sorry, Senator Askew—I'm going to name you. I'm going to call on Minister Wong, now.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to standing order 203, I move:

That Senator Hanson be suspended from the sitting of the Senate until she complies with the President's direction.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Wong be agreed to. I believe the ayes have it.

Question agreed to.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I have called that for the ayes. I indicated to the chamber, consistent with Senator Parry's ruling, that I would not recognise Senator Hanson while she remained in the chamber in something that has been deemed a prop. The vote was for the ayes, and I've called that.

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

There were multiple noes.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, I have called the vote, so that's the end of the matter. Senator Roberts, please resume your seat; we have moved on. Senator Parry's order is very clear, and I've upheld that. Now Senator Hanson has to remove herself from the chamber.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wasn't allowed in the Senate chamber when I was suspended. How come she's allowed in here?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, the interjections are really unhelpful. I would like to get on with the business of the Senate.

Order, Senator Thorpe!

Senator Shoebridge, I couldn't be any clearer. The Senate has just moved to sanction Senator Hanson.

I'll give you a few seconds, Senator Shoebridge. Make it short and very clear.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have a senator who has been named, and she cannot remain in here while the Senate proceeds. I would ask you to seek advice on a short suspension of the chamber so that can be achieved.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Senator Wong, I will come to you. I would hope that all of us in here can uphold, with respect, the business of the chamber. The Senate has made its view clear. We should not have to move to suspending. I should not have to be entertaining interjections. I want everyone to behave in a respectful way. I'm going to give the call to Senator Wong. The suggestion of a suspension is something I'm really loath to do, Senator Shoebridge. I would hope that senators in here can behave respectfully, and, if you're called, you're called. But—

No, Senator Tyrrell. Sit down.

Senator Tyrrell, you do not have the call.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, this chamber doesn't operate on people being physically removed. This chamber operates on senators, who are elected by the people, respecting the Constitution of Australia and the standing orders of this chamber, and it says something, Senator Hanson, if you refuse to act in a manner consistent with the standing orders of this chamber. So, for all of your talk about respecting institutions, democracy and the Australian people, it is you who today are disregarding this parliament, our Constitution and the standing orders that flow from that, which the chamber has agreed with. I move:

That the sitting of the Senate be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

Question agreed to.

Sitting suspended from 16:12 to 17:50

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators, earlier today the Senate voted to suspend Senator Hanson for the remainder of the sitting. The Clerk and I have met with Senator Hanson, and she understands that message from the Senate chamber.