Pauline Hanson’s burka stunt could force Senate dress code

Weeks after being slapped down over her burka stunt, Senator Pauline Hanson may yet get her way.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson is pushing for a ban on face coverings. Picture: AAP

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has urged senators to amend standing orders to ban face-coverings in the chamber after the President of the Senate, Stephen Parry, referred the issue to the powerful procedures committee.

Senator Parry today referred the lack of a formal dress code in the upper house to a review following Senator Hanson’s controversial decision to wear a burka into the chamber when the parliament sat in August.

The Senate’s standing committee on procedure is chaired by West Australian Labor Senator Sue Lines, who this evening warned the changes would not stop senators from trying to bring the upper house into disrepute.

Senator Parry asked the committee examine the need to set a formal dress code and whether he would need new powers to enforce it, including the ability to kick-out Senators for breaching the new rules.

In a swipe at Senator Hanson, he said he was disappointed at the prospect of the Senate adopting guidelines to regulate clothing instead of relying upon the “personal discretion and good judgment of senators.”

Senator Hanson donned a burka in the Senate last month. Picture: AAP

“In the absence of a clear rule against the use of apparel in this way, I have no formal power to deal with incidents like this,” Senator Parry said. “Unlike the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President does not have the ability to independently remove any senator for a breach of the Standing Orders.”

“It is not well-known in the community ... Therefore I have also asked the Procedure Committee to consider a possible amendment to the Standing Orders allowing the President or Deputy President to enforce Standing Orders by suspending a senator from the Senate for a period of time.”

Senator Parry said the Senate would make any final decision on whether to approve changes to standing orders.

He also revealed that he had since interviewed two parliamentary security officers, establishing that they were both satisfied of Senator Hanson’s identity before she entered the chamber, based on assurances provided by NSW One Nation Senator Brian Burston.

“The word of Senator Burston alone is, in my view, sufficient,” he said.

Senator Hanson said she fully supported this “long overdue move by the Senate President.”

“I was always aware the lack of a formal dress code permitted me to wear a burka and this needed to be addressed,” she told The Australian. “Hopefully, the committee shows some common sense and full face coverings, like the burka, will no longer be permitted in the Senate.”

Senator Lines was less enthusiastic, suggesting the changes envisioned by Senator Parry would not prevent some senators from undermining the integrity of the chamber.

“Of course, the Senate President is entirely within his rights to refer any issue regarding the orderly running of the Senate to the procedures committee,” she told The Australian. “However, it’s clear that no rules will act as a barrier to a Senator determined to disrespect the dignity of the senate.”