Court Rules Pauline Hanson Guilty of Racial Hate‑Speech

Sun Sep 06 2026 15:02:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A federal court confirms that Pauline Hanson’s tweet about a Muslim senator violated Australia's Racial Discrimination Act. The ruling emphasizes that hate speech isn’t protected political commentary.

In a landmark decision, Australian Federal Court Justice Melissa Perry upheld a 2024 ruling stating former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson breached the Racial Discrimination Act when she urged a Muslim senator to "go back to where you came from." Hanson’s appeal was rejected, and he ordered her to delete the offending tweet and pay legal costs. Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a Greens deputy leader, highlighted the case as a stand against racism, noting hate speech is not free speech. The court’s verdict underscores that political speech can be unlawful if it targets people because of race or ethnicity.

Court Rules Pauline Hanson Guilty of Racial Hate‑Speech

On Monday, Justice Melissa Perry formally rejected Pauline Hanson’s attempt to overturn a 2024 decision that found her insulting a Muslim senator on Twitter – a move she claimed was protected political commentary. The judge confirmed that Hanson’s tweet on the death of Queen Elizabeth II “implicitly targeted Muslims” and was an instance of racial harassment under the Racial Discrimination Act.

Key order: Hanson must delete her tweet and reimburse Senator Mehreen Faruqi for legal costs, while her appeal to the High Court is declined for now.

"Hate speech is not free speech," Faruqi told reporters outside the courtroom.

Hanson, who once championed a “Muslim ban” and has made controversial comments about Islam, described the ruling as a “disappointment.” She and her legal team say they will consider taking the case to the High Court.

This decision marks a serious check on political speech that veers into racial slurs, reminding public figures that their words must not target people because of race, ethnicity, or religion.