Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson as a "convicted racist," in a fiery day in parliament.
Senator Hanson was found by the federal court in October to have used a "racist trope" and indulged in a "strong form of racism" when she wrote, addressing Senator Mehreen Faruqi, "pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan". She was ordered to delete the social media post and pay Senator Faruqi's legal costs, but was not convicted of a criminal offence.
Speaking to reporters after Senator Hanson moved a motion to refer WA Senator Fatima Payman for an investigation over an alleged section 44 citizenship issue, Senator Thorpe said both major parties had come together "against Black and brown people".
"They allow racism to continue to hurt us, and everybody else in this country who is not white," the Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung Senator said.
View this post on Instagram
Senator Hanson said Senator Payman - who was born in Afghanistan - hadn't provided enough documentation to prove she had revoked her citizenship.
Section 44c prevents anyone holding a citizenship of another country from sitting in parliament.
Senator Payman has previously said she sought legal advice, which confirmed she has taken all possible steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship.
The Taliban-controlled country - with which Australia does not have relations - has not finalised her citizenship withdrawal.
A procedural vote took place to decide if Senator Hanson could table the papers regarding her referral, which was supported by both the government and the opposition.
However, the motion was resoundingly defeated on Wednesday afternoon, 35-3, with only Senator Hanson, her party colleague Malcolm Roberts, and UAP's Ralph Babet voting for it.
"Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place. Maybe it's time she pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban about this," Senator Payman said.
Furiously, she then raised her voice and spoke directly to Senator Hanson: "You're not just vindictive, mean, nasty, you bring disgrace to the human race. No dignity whatsoever as a senator."
Asked by reporters if the call to refer Senator Payman by Senator Hanson was motivated by racism, Senator Thorpe said: "Absolutely".
"Anything that comes out of her mouth is motivated by racism," she said.
"The fear of a black woman to that particular senator was unbelievable."
Earlier this month, Senator Hanson was found guilty of breaching 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act for a racially discriminatory social media post regarding NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi.
The Queensland Senator wrote that Senator Faruqi - who is Muslim and born in Pakistan - to "p**s off" back to Pakistan.
The judge said Senator Hanson "has a tendency to make negative, derogatory, discriminating or hateful statements in relation to about or against groups of people relevantly identified as persons of colour, migrants to Australia and Muslims, and to do so because of those characteristics".
Highlighting the Federal Court decision, Senator Thorpe said Senator Hanson needed to "take a good hard look at herself" and the "white tears that she cried for being convicted of racism".
Earlier this week, Senator Thorpe, along with Senator Faruqi, called on the Senate procedure committee to investigate racism in parliament.
Asked why Senator Hanson chose to question Senator Payman's citizenship, Senator Thorpe was unequivocal: "Because she is a convicted racist, and that's what racists do."
"They take up our space to create hate and division in this country."
She said it was the racists who were dividing society and creating hate.
"They need to be stopped," Senator Thorpe said.
