Australia's Hanson loses appeal in racial vilification case over senator comments
Federal Court rejects free speech defence for telling Muslim senator to 'go back to Pakistan'
Australian far-right Senator Pauline Hanson failed on Monday to overturn a racial vilification finding from the Federal Court. The case originated from a 2022 social media exchange following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Left-leaning Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who was born in Pakistan, posted that she could not mourn 'the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised people'. Hanson responded by telling Faruqi to 'pack your bags and p*** off back to Pakistan', accusing her of taking advantage of Australian citizenship, multiple homes, and a parliamentary job.
The Federal Court rejected Hanson's free speech defence and upheld the initial racial vilification ruling. Hanson, who leads the far-right One Nation party, has cultivated a large following by advocating strict immigration curbs, mass deportations of 'illegal migrants', and enhanced free speech protections. Despite this legal setback, she remains one of Australia's most popular politicians. The case highlights ongoing tensions between free expression and anti-discrimination laws in Australia, particularly regarding public figures making inflammatory statements against minority groups.
- The Federal Court upheld a racial vilification finding against Senator Pauline Hanson for telling Muslim senator Mehreen Faruqi to 'go back to Pakistan' in 2022.
- Hanson's free speech defence was rejected in the appeal, which was decided on July 27, 2026.
- The comments were made after Faruqi criticized Queen Elizabeth II's legacy; Hanson remains a popular far-right figure pushing anti-immigration policies.
Why It Matters
Ruling sets precedent for limits on free speech when targeting minority groups, impacting political discourse in Australia.