Senator Garners $500,000 in Funds to Contest Ruling on Racial Discrimination

Supporters of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation have rallied behind the party leader, raising almost half a million dollars to help her fight a ruling that found she committed racial discrimination.

Hanson is appealing the Federal Court decision handed down on Nov. 1, that found the senator breached the Racial Discrimination Act amid comments made in 2022 where she told Greens Deputy Leader and Senator Mehreen Faruqi to go back to Pakistan.

The One Nation senator was ordered to remove her comments and pay Faruqi’s legal costs.

Hanson’s comments were prompted by a social media post by Faruqi on Sept. 9, 2022, where the Greens senator said she refused to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Condolences to those who knew the Queen,” Faruqi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following news of the monarch’s death.

“I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples.

“We are reminded of the urgency of treaty with First Nations, justice and reparations for British colonies and becoming a republic.”

Her post is still present on X.

Hanson replied to Faruqi:

“When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country,” she wrote.

“It’s clear you’re not happy, so pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan.”

Faruqi brought a federal case against Hanson in order to force the One Nation senator to remove her comments.

Justice Angus Stewart found Senator Hanson engaged in “seriously offensive” and intimidating behaviour.

The court heard Faruqi was insulted and humiliated by Hanson’s comments, and that she felt like she was not accepted in Australia.

Faruqi also told the court, during cross-examination, that Hanson’s response had caused her to suffer sleepless nights, and that she had woken up in “great distress” due to “trauma” arising from the interaction.

Funds Raised for Appeal

On Nov. 13, Hanson announced donors had so far funded more than half the money she planned to raise in order to appeal the Federal Court’s decision.

“As many of you know, I’m appealing a recent court decision brought against me by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a decision that, in my view, threatens the very core of our freedom of speech,” she said.

“Today, I’m pleased to announce we are halfway to our appeal goal. We’ve raised an incredible $550,126 (US$359,524.71) towards our $1 million target, and I am beyond grateful for every single donation, message of encouragement, and prayer.”

Hanson said the appeal was about more than just the comments on X, it was about a bigger picture.

“It’s about defending our right to speak freely, even when our opinions may not sit well with everyone,” she said.

“Your support shows that so many of you stand for this too, and that means the world to me.”