The Senate's decision to censure Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi for a protest over Israel's actions in Gaza has drawn criticism, particularly when contrasted to the lack of penalty for One Nation Senators turning their backs on the Acknowledgment of Country.
Senator Faruqi held a sign in the Senate chamber reading: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel" during the opening of Parliament.
In response, the government passed a motion condemning the act as "highly inappropriate" and claiming it "undermines our democratic system". The Coalition had attempted to impose harsher penalties.
Senator Faruqi was instructed to "refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions which reflect poorly on the Senate" and to apologise. She was also banned from participating in any parliamentary delegations for the remainder of this term.
By contrast, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and her colleagues faced no formal sanction after turning their backs during the Acknowledgment of Country on Tuesday.
Kurin Minang human rights expert and law academic Dr Hannah McGlade pointed to the inconsistency.
"The Senate was quick to sanction Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi for holding a sign to protest Gaza during the opening of the 48th parliament, yet seem to have no issue with One Nation senators turning their backs on the Acknowledgement of Country," Dr McGlade told National Indigenous Times.
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Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy condemned the act in the Senate on Thursday, calling it a calculated insult.
"These senators aren't required to be in the Senate for the acknowledgement of country," she said.
"In fact, they haven't been, in the past, but they do now: whether it is for attention or for clickbait; whether it is to court offense; whether it is to stoke division, these senators have made a deliberate decision to disrespect First Nations Australians."
She described the protest as "childish" and "hurtful," adding: "We won't be swayed by the gales of divisive culture wars."
Still, One Nation escaped formal censure. On Thursday, Senator Hanson defended the act, saying it was meant to represent Australians who voted against the Voice to Parliament.
"They don't want this division that is happening in our country. They are fed up with Welcome to Country," she said.
Dr McGlade called the protest "an attack on Aboriginal people," saying the acknowledgment honours an unbroken connection to land over 60,000 years.
"This is a blatant act of racism which is prohibited under law yet normalised and routine in Australian society," she said, noting that One Nation "plan to do this every morning when the Acknowledgement of Country is made".
"Mehreen Faruqi's protest about the genocide in Gaza, and the loss of children's lives, was attacked by the ALP Minister Penny Wong who falls silent when the racism is directed to First Nations peoples.
"This all reinforces the need to fund the Anti-Racism plan and start to seriously tackle racism against Aboriginal people which is on the rise."
Senator Wong was granted leave on Thursday to rebuke Senator Hanson's comments.
"Senator Hanson speaks of division, but it is she who peddles in division. Senator Hanson speaks of respect, but it is she who peddles disrespect," Senator Wong said.
Referring to Senator McCarthy's earlier speech, she added: "Decency and respect cost us nothing, but it goes a long way to building a sense of unity. And if you want to see what grace and respect look like, perhaps remember what Senator McCarthy said just a few moments ago."
While some conservatives continue to label Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country as divisive, no evidence has been presented to support these claims.
At the last federal election, voters overwhelmingly rejected culture war politics. Labor won a historic majority, and former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton — who said Welcome to Country ceremonies were "overdone" and should be limited — lost his seat.
On Tuesday, new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley adopted a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging the Welcome to Country given by Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan.
"As Australians, we share a story unlike any other, with an ancient culture, the oldest living in the world, rooted in land, language and story," she said.
"Thank you again Aunty Violet for your welcome for the opening of this new parliament. May it set the tone as we recommit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunities for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country."
