The leader of the far-right One Nation party in Australia turned up to parliament wearing a burka to call for the traditional Islamic clothing to be banned.
Pauline Hanson entered the Senate chamber for the daily question time in the black garment, drawing audible shocks from those inside.
Ms Hanson’s stunt came as her party called for burkas to be banned in Australia over concerns about national security.
However, attorney general George Brandis, the leader of the government in the Senate, told Ms Hanson that there would be no burka ban.
Ms Hanson’s stunt did not go down well inside the chamber.
He said: No, we will not be banning the burka.
Senator Hanson, I’m 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 you and counsel you, Senator Hanson, with respect, to be very very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other Australians.
In remarks that drew standing ovation from the opposition Labor party, Mr Brandis added: To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments, is an appalling thing to do, and I would ask you to reflect on your behaviour.
Labor senator Penny Wong added: “It is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith and another to wear it here as a stunt in the Senate chamber.”
Ms Hanson said in 2016 that Australia was being swamped by Muslims.
The One Nation leader is calling for a burka ban in Australia (Reuters)
In her statement to the Senate about a burka ban, she said: Terrorism is a true threat to our country. Many Australians are in fear of it.
What I would like to ask on behalf of the Australian people, considering there has been a large majority of Australians wish to see the banning of the burqa.
Her motion to ban the garment will be debated in the Senate later today.
The One Nation party’s policies include a ban on Muslim immigration and a royal commission into Islam.