An Australian federal court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by right-wing politician Pauline Hanson, upholding an earlier ruling that she unlawfully racially discriminated against Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi.
The case stemmed from a 2022 social media post in which Hanson told Faruqi to "pack your bags and go back to Pakistan" after the senator criticized Britain's colonial history following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2024, the court ruled that the comment breached Australia's racial discrimination laws.
Delivering its judgment on Monday, the Full Federal Court said Hanson failed to establish any valid grounds for appeal. The judges ruled that her remarks amounted to an anti-Muslim and Islamophobic message and were not protected under Australia's free speech provisions.
Reacting to the verdict, Senator Faruqi welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for everyone who has been subjected to racist remarks telling them to "go back to where they came from." She also said the ruling reaffirmed that hate speech should not be protected as free speech.
Hanson, leader of the anti-immigration One Nation party, said she and her legal team would review the judgment and planned to appeal to Australia's High Court. She argued that laws restricting offensive speech were limiting Australians' ability to express personal opinions.
The court also upheld the constitutionality of Australia's racial discrimination laws and ruled that Hanson could not rely on a public interest defense for her comments.
Founded in 1997, the One Nation party has built its support on strong anti-immigration policies. Hanson has repeatedly called for an end to multiculturalism, arguing that Australia should become a "monocultural" society.
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