We heard Mehreen Faruqi’s disgust of Israel and what they have done to protect themselves. Through their retaliation they said: ‘We’ve had enough. We’ve have had a gutful of this,’ and now they are defending themselves. Good on them; I don’t blame them.
Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation) (14:05): Those comments that were made were in relation to a speech, and actually what I said was:
We heard Mehreen Faruqi’s disgust of Israel and what they have done to protect themselves. Through their retaliation they said: ‘We’ve had enough. We’ve have had a gutful of this,’ and now they are defending themselves. Good on them; I don’t blame them. But the fact is that it’s a pity that Mehreen Faruqi didn’t—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, please refer—
Senator HANSON: I’m reading from what I said.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson—
Senator HANSON: I will say—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. I was not in the chamber when you made that contribution. I am in the chamber now, and I am directing you to refer to the senator by her correct name.
Senator HANSON: This is in Hansard but anyway all right. We’ll go to Senator Faruqi:
… didn’t look at what Pakistan did to two million Afghan people there. They just went in, bulldozed their homes, said, ‘Go back to Afghanistan.’ What about those people?
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. Senator Waters.
Senator Waters: Point of order: Senator Hanson is merely repeating what is already on the Hansard and that we have all had the displeasure of reading, which is why we are currently complaining about a breach of standing orders and the Code of Conduct, and simply repeating those comments takes us no further to a solution.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, Senator Hanson is entitled to make those remarks. I was not in the chamber at the time when these remarks were made. But, senators in this place, we all know this is a chamber that allows broad-ranging debate that some of us might agree with and some of us may not agree with. Senator Hanson, as long as she remains within the standing orders and, like all senators, does not make personal reflections on other senators is within the standing orders. Senator Hanson.
Senator HANSON: I said:
Where is the fear for them? Oh no, that’s right: Pakistan is the country that she came from, so we can’t criticise the Pakistanis, can we? No, not at all.
I then said—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, in the same way I reminded Senator Waters, this matter is about why this matter is urgent, so I would ask you to address your comments to the urgency motion. Thank you.
Senator HANSON: My comments refer back to what Senator Waters was saying. I said:
Senator Faruqi, I will tell you again: if you don’t see yourself as loving this country and abiding by the laws of the country, I have no problem. I will actually take you to the airport—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, that was a personal reflection. I’m going to ask you to withdraw that.
Senator HANSON: Well, that’s a serious matter. Let me think about it.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order!
Senator HANSON: Senator Faruqi, there’s a tissue here for you if you’d like.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. I understand there are a number of points of order. I am going to deal with the matter in the first instance. Senator Hanson, as I said to you, I was not in the chamber when this matter first came up. I am in the chamber now. I am the President. You made a personal reflection. It’s not up for debate. I have asked you to withdraw that, and I remind you again you need to withdraw.
Senator HANSON: I used to make those same statements at immigration ceremonies to people, and they accepted—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. You are not debating with me. You have made a personal reflection. It is not in accordance with the standing orders. I have asked you or I have directed you to withdraw that statement. I simply ask you to withdraw without making any further comment.
Senator HANSON: I believe I’m speaking on behalf of millions of Australians, and, no, I won’t—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson! That is a very serious matter. You have breached the standing orders. I’m asking you to take a few moments and reflect on what I have directed you to do, and that is to withdraw that personal reflection. It doesn’t matter what you may have said outside of the chamber. We all have to abide by the standing orders in here, including me. You have made a personal reflection on a senator, and I ask that you withdraw those remarks.
Senator Hanson: I expect senators in this place to respect the Australian people and our laws and our views. I will—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson! Senator Hanson, I’m withdrawing the call from you, and I’m moving to the next speaker. Are you seeking to make a point of order, Senator Hanson-Young?
Senator Hanson-Young: Yes, I am, President. Senator Hanson is wilfully and continually ignoring your direction. That is a reflection on you as President. It’s a serious breach of the standing orders. She should be named, and she should be held to account for that.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Hanson-Young. I’m well aware of the standing orders and what has just occurred. I have asked the senator to withdraw the remarks. I’ve now withdrawn the call from her. I’ll see if there are any other speakers. Senator Farrell.