Australian senator to appeal ruling over racist tweet against Pakistani-origin lawmaker

Pauline Hanson, leader of Australia’s One Nation party, announced her plans to appeal a Federal Court decision that found she racially vilified fellow Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, of Pakistani descent, in a 2022 tweet.

Hanson described the ruling as a blow to free speech and vowed to fight "for all Australians".

The court earlier this month ruled that Hanson's tweet, in which she told Faruqi to “p*** off back to Pakistan,” was unlawful under Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Justice Angus Stewart deemed the message “seriously offensive” and ordered Hanson to delete the post and pay Faruqi’s legal costs.

Although Faruqi sought an additional $150,000 payment to charity and anti-racism training for Hanson, the court declined to enforce these measures.

Speaking to Sky News Australia on Wednesday, Hanson voiced her distress over the verdict, revealing that she took time to emotionally recover before resolving to appeal, stating that Australia is "not the country that I grew up in".

“I basically shut myself away for a couple of days,” she said. “I just had to rebuild my strength and realize "okay, pick yourself up, dust yourself down, I can't go anywhere, I have to fight this”.

'Test case for free speech'

Hanson framed her legal battle as a broader challenge to what she perceives as growing limits on public discourse. The controversial senator has raised more than $650,000 to fund her appeal, which she says reflects widespread public support.

“The phones at my office never stop ringing,” she said. “The letters and wishes of support and prayers, it's been so welcomed.”

Justice Stewart’s ruling pointed to the tweet’s exclusionary nature, stating it sent a message that Faruqi, an immigrant, was a “second-class citizen” who should remain silent.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi talks to the media outside the Federal Court of Australia, in Sydney, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Courtesy: AP

The controversy arose on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s death when Faruqi tweeted condolences for the late monarch’s acquaintances but described the British Empire as “racist” and built on “stolen lives, land, and wealth”.

Hanson’s response accused Faruqi of hypocrisy for criticizing the monarchy while benefiting from life in Australia.

"When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country," she wrote. "It's clear you're not happy, so pack your bags and p*** off back to Pakistan."

Justice Stewart rejected Hanson’s defense that her comments were part of a political debate, noting they amounted to a “strong form of racism”.

Decades-long pattern

Australia’s One Nation party leader Senator Pauline Hanson makes her maiden speech in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, September 14, 2016.Reuters

The court also highlighted Hanson’s history of discriminatory rhetoric targeting migrants, Muslims, and people of color. Justice Stewart dismissed her claim that she was unaware of Faruqi’s Muslim background at the time of the tweet.

Hanson denied her remarks were influenced by Faruqi’s faith or ethnicity, saying they were in response to Faruqi’s criticism of the monarchy.

“Let me just point out also, that under the 18C, religion doesn't come into it” Hanson said. “Her being a Muslim had absolutely nothing to do with it. I don't care about a person's colour of their skin or what religion she was, had nothing to do with it.”

Hanson also claimed many Australians found Faruqi’s comments on the monarchy offensive, echoing her own sentiments.

The appeal is expected to focus on Hanson's assertion that her comments fall within the bounds of free speech, with the outcome potentially setting a significant legal precedent in Australia.