One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson found herself entangled in a legal battle as Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi took her to court, alleging racial discrimination over a tweet posted in response to Faruqi calling for a treaty with First Nations and criticizing the British monarchy. Hanson's tweet prompted accusations of bias, with Faruqi arguing that the post targeted her based on her ethnicity and religion.
During the court proceedings, Hanson was scrutinized by Senator Faruqi's counsel, Saul Holt KC, who accused her of dishonesty by denying knowledge of Senator Faruqi's Muslim background when she made the controversial tweet. Despite being confronted with past interviews and statements that displayed her critical views on Islam and migration, Hanson maintained that she was not aware of Senator Faruqi's religious affiliation at the time of the tweet.
Hanson's defense centered on the assertion that her response to Senator Faruqi was not driven by discriminatory motives but was rather a reaction to what she perceived as an insulting tweet. The court session also involved the examination of a report by Deakin University academic Yin Paradies, who discussed the potential negative impact of the tweet on individuals with migrant backgrounds, adding a layer of academic analysis to the legal debate. The proceedings underscored the complex intersection of social media, political discourse, and perceptions of discrimination within the Australian political landscape.