Federal Court Showdown: Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi vs. One Nation’s Pauline Hanson

A legal battle filled with heated exchanges and accusations of racism has unfolded in the Federal Court of Australia this week. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson are at the center of a defamation trial that has captured public attention.

The dispute dates back to a Twitter altercation in September 2022, triggered by Faruqi’s critical post following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Faruqi, an Australian citizen with Pakistani heritage, condemned the British monarchy’s history of colonization.

Hanson swiftly responded with a tweet telling Faruqi to ‘pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan’. This comment, deemed by Faruqi as a racial slur, led to the legal showdown now taking place in the Federal Court.

Faruqi’s legal representative, Saul Holt SC, argues that Hanson’s tweet breaches section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. The Act prohibits acts likely to insult, humiliate or intimidate based on race, color, or national origin. Hanson, represented by Sue Chrysanthou SC, claims her remarks were made sincerely and therefore fall within legal exemptions.

During Faruqi’s testimony on the first day of the trial, she expressed how Hanson’s words challenged her sense of belonging in Australia. Chrysanthou probed Faruqi on her motivations for taking legal action, insinuating a political agenda, given their opposing political backgrounds.

The debate extended to the definition of racism, with Faruqi asserting that it is intertwined with power dynamics, particularly in a country where the majority holds the influence. Justice Angus Stewart raised comparisons to the recent Sam Kerr incident involving allegations of racial insults towards a police officer in London.

Today, the court anticipates Hanson’s testimony as the trial progresses. The outcome could prompt Hanson to remove the tweet, undergo anti-racism training, and donate to a charity chosen by Faruqi should the court rule in the Greens Senator’s favor.