Pauline Hanson shocked the nation when she entered the Senate dressed in a black burqa Thursday afternoon. With her Senate pin still visible, she was greeted by groans from both Labor and Greens Senators.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator, Jonathan Duniam, could audibly be heard saying, “Oh, what on earth,” as Hanson entered the chamber during question time. Duniam’s sentiments were reflected by most Senators, all of whom were equally outraged at her blatant disrespect of the Muslim community.  After some time, Senator Hanson removed the burqa in a rather dramatic fashion and demanded the government join with her in banning the burqa.  Attorney-General Brandis was particularly stunned by Hanson’s mockery of the Islamic faith, and immediately condemned her for her “appalling actions.” Brandis was visibly emotional as he rebuked Hanson’s offensive stunt. “Senator Hanson, no, we will not be banning the burqa,” he said in response to her request to prohibit the religious garment.

“Senator Hanson, I’m not going to pretend to ignore the stunt that you have tried to pull today by arriving in the chamber dressed in burqa when we all know you are not an adherent to the Islamic faith. I caution you and counsel you Senator Hanson, with respect, to be very, very careful of the offence you may give to the religious sensibilities of other Australians. We have about half a million Australians in this country of the Islamic faith and the vast majority of them are law-abiding, good Australians.  It is absolutely consistent to be a good law-abiding Australian and be a strict adherent Muslim. Senator Hanson, for the last four years I’ve had responsibility… for national security policy. I can tell you, Senator Hanson, that it has been the advice of each director-general of security with whom I have worked, and each division of the Australian Federal Police with whom I have worked, that it is vital for their intelligence and law enforcement work that they work cooperatively with the Muslim community. To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments, is an appalling thing to do.”

Brandis’s emotional speech received a rare standing ovation from his opponents, with Penny Wong applauding his response to Hanson’s “stunt” in the chamber. “I make this point on behalf of all of us on this side of the chamber: it is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith, there is another to wear it as a stunt here in the chamber,” Wong said.

Crossbencher, Senator Nick Xenophon, also congratulated Brandis for speaking “like a true statesman” when criticizing Hanson’s “toxic behaviour.” “He displayed the leadership and clarity of purpose that this country needs on issues such as this. Good on you, George,” Senator Xenophon said.

Senator Hanson and Senator Burston left the Senate shortly after, met with jeers from the opposition.   

However, Pauline Hanson’s stunt, while ridiculous, successfully reignited the debate over women’s religious freedoms. The debate was first fueled in 2014 when Tony Abbott overturned a decision by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senator Parry to isolate women wearing a burqa or niqab in glass enclosures away from public galleries.

Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman, Keysar Trad, responded to the stunt, predicting some people would be deeply offended by Hanson’s actions. “Some people will be hurt by what she’s doing. Women who wear the burqa will feel hurt and will feel that they are under siege again,” he said. “Why isn’t Pauline Hanson supporting their right to dress as they choose?”

Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president, Adel Salman, similarly condemned Hanson’s actions, labelling them offensive and unnecessary. “The current discourse is really negative. It’s about time [Senator Hanson] is ridiculed and her platform is ridiculed,” he said.

In an interview with radio station 2GB, Hanson defended her actions as an attempt to raise awareness of the nation’s security risks and the oppression of women.

“I am very much against the burka,” Hanson said. “It is not a religious requirement, [it] is a matter of controlling women, telling women what to do, how to live their lives and to cover up.  Where are the feminists in this country, why are they not standing up for these women?“

“With the amount of kids that these Muslims are having and breeding here in Australia … possibly one day maybe not in the next five years but further down the track, it might be my daughter or grandchildren will be told, ‘You must cover up,’ as is the case in many countries who are demanding women to cover up,” she said.

However, Hanson’s attempts essentially backfired. Rather than demonstrate the security risks of wearing a burqa or similar religious garment in Parliament, she instead endorsed it.

On the contrary, Hanson’s stunt has given hope to Muslim women all over the country, with the knowledge that their choice of dress will not hinder their ability to participate in Parliament.

Despite her blatant attack on the Islamic faith, Hanson ironically proved that women can wear whatever they desire without it impeding on national security – even in the chambers of Parliament.