In brief
In a decision delivered on Monday, the Federal Court upheld a 2024 ruling that Pauline Hanson’s 2022 tweet urging a Muslim senator to return to Pakistan constituted racial discrimination. The judge found the post to be a form of anti‑Muslim hate speech, violating the Racial Discrimination Act. Hanson’s appeal, which argued political communication should be protected, was rejected. The case underscores the judicial stance that hate speech is not protected under the umbrella of free political expression.
Federal Court confirms Pauline Hanson breached the Racial Discrimination Act over a 2022 tweet that urged a Muslim senator to return to Pakistan.
Hanson, the One Nation party leader, appealed the earlier 2024 decision, claiming political speech should be protected. The court dismisses this argument, reaffirming that hate speech, even when framed as a political comment, falls outside the scope of protected expression.
The judge noted the tweet was a variant of a long‑standing anti‑Muslim trope that targeted a specific religious group. He ordered Hanson to delete the posted content and pay the senator’s legal costs.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the Greens, celebrated the victory as a step toward holding offenders of racism accountable. Her comments outside court stressed that hate speech is not free speech, and that the case was a fight against conditional belonging in the country.
Hanson expressed disappointment at the ruling and said she would review the outcome with a view to appealing to the High Court of Australia if necessary.
The case follows a track record of controversial statements by Hanson, including calls for a Muslim ban and remarks that characterise Muslims as a negative group. Her public engagements this year, including a podcast with far‑right activist Tommy Robinson, highlight an ongoing tension around immigration and national identity in Australia.
