Independent senator Fatima Payman has accused Pauline Hanson of racism after the One Nation leader questioned her eligibility to sit in parliament.
Payman labelled Hanson "vindictive, mean, nasty" during an explosive exchange in the Senate, which prompted independent senator Lidia Thorpe to tear up documents and walk out in support.
Payman, who now sits on the crossbench, holds Afghan citizenship and has previously made representations to renounce it but hasn't gone any further following the Taliban's takeover of the country.
On Wednesday, Labor joined Hanson to allow documents to be tabled in the Senate questioning Payman's eligibility to sit in the chamber because of her dual citizenship status.
Payman fired up in response, calling Hanson racist, a remark she was forced to withdraw before she read out several allegedly racist quotes by the One Nation leader.
"The fact that you would say just weeks ago to Senator [Mehreen] Faruqi, piss off back to Pakistan. You're not just vindictive, mean, nasty. You bring disgrace to the human race," she said, referring to a post on X that was
.
"I kept on giving you the benefit of the doubt. Senator Hanson, despite your repetitive attempts to be racist to anyone who does not look like you."
Payman said while she was honoured to "live rent-free in Senator Hanson's mind", it was "outrageous" to waste time in the Senate when there was a legislative agenda to address.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe walked out of the Senate chamber after throwing papers at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
As Labor senators took their places to support the motion, Thorpe was heard shouting as she tore up the documents and threw them at Hanson.
Thorpe gave the middle finger over her shoulder as she left the chamber.
Senate president Sue Lines has advised the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service of the incident and will review it with party leaders in the coming weeks.
She said while debate was expected in the chamber, "physically threatening behaviour will not be tolerated", referring to Thorpe tossing documents in Hanson's direction.
"It is incredibly disappointing that three years into the implementation of the recommendations of the Jenkins review, senators appear all too ready to descend into disorder rather than seeking to conduct themselves in a safe and respectful manner. We must do better," she said.
Senator Hanson's bid to refer Senator Payman to a parliamentary committee was voted down by Labor and the Greens later that afternoon.
Why could Payman be reviewed under section 44?
The issue centres on whether Afghan-born Payman violates section 44 of the constitution, which prohibits foreign citizens and dual citizens from sitting in parliament.
Hanson accused the Greens of forming a "protection racket" for Payman.
"This should be referred to a committee to be investigated if she is eligible to stand in this place," she told the chamber. "I will stand my ground on this issue."
Payman highlighted that Labor had reviewed the issue before supporting her to become a senator with the party ahead of the 2022 federal election, a position she quit in July.
In a subsequent press conference, Thorpe said the exchange showed parliament needs stronger anti-racism standards to ensure a safe workplace.
"Now we saw this morning a convicted racist with the disgusting vial that spews out of that mouth against anybody who is not white. That means that this workplace is not safe for anybody who's not white," she said.
Thorpe threw her support behind
, released on Tuesday, which called for all parliamentarians and their staff to undergo cultural safety and anti-racism training.
This follows Thorpe and Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi moving a motion on Monday to investigate racism within parliament.
"In here, it's easy to fling around racism and racist commentary without consequence, but if you dare call out racism or white supremacy, you are shut down, silenced and gaslighted," Faruqi said in a statement on Monday.
"Despite all the revelations of the past few years, parliament still has not reckoned with its whitewashed and exclusionary culture where discrimination against First Nations people, people of colour, people with disability and LGBTQI+ people is common in practice and policy."
With additional reporting from AAP
