One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will argue a section of the Racial Discrimination Act is unconstitutional in her legal defence against Mehreen Faruqi — a move the Greens senator says is “deeply offensive”.
KEY POINTS:
- Senator Pauline Hanson has revealed her defence against Senator Mehreen Faruqi’s legal suit.
- The One Nation leader will argue Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is unconstitutional.
- Senator Hanson told Senator Faruqi to “piss off back to Pakistan” in a tweet.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will attempt to have Australia’s racial discrimination laws restricted in her defence against Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi over an inflammatory tweet.
for unlawful offensive behaviour, under the Racial Discrimination Act, over a tweet telling the Greens deputy leader to “piss off back to Pakistan”.
The
was in response to comments made by the Greens deputy leader following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
Senator Hanson has hired prominent lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC and constitutional law expert Bret Walker SC.
Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC will defend Senator Pauline Hanson. Source: AAP
In documents filed in the Federal Court, Senator Hanson’s lawyers argue her tweet was reasonable and made in good faith as she believed it was true and was using her public profile to voice her opinion.
The documents also question the validity of sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate someone because of their race or ethnicity.
Senator Hanson’s legal team argue the sections of the Act “infringe the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution” and, therefore, Senator Faruqi’s claims are invalid.
