Pauline Hanson doubles down on burqa ban and reveals why migrants from 'radical Islamist' nations should be blocked from Australia

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 07:15, 2 June 2026 | Updated: 07:15, 2 June 2026 Pauline Hanson has doubled down on her push to ban the burqa in Australia, declaring the religious garment is 'incompatible with our culture and our way of life.' Appearing on Sky News on Sunday, the One Nation leader called for a nationwide ban on face-covering veils and stricter migration controls targeting countries she described as 'radical Islamist'. 'I do want to ban the burqa because it's incompatible with our culture and our way of life, and it should not be worn in Australia,' Hanson said. She argued Australia should follow other nations that have introduced similar measures.  'Twenty-four countries around the world have actually banned it, and we should be doing it here.' France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland are among those that have implemented bans on face-covering veils. Hanson framed the proposal as part of a broader debate about national identity, saying Australia is grounded in 'Judeo-Christian' values. 'This is a Judeo-Christian country or, you know, the values of that. We've got different religions here by all means,' Hanson said, while adding that limits were necessary. Pauline Hanson (pictured) reiterated her previous calls to ban the burqa from public places  She also called for tighter migration policies, arguing Australia should block entry from certain countries. 'So if you've got people coming from these countries that are radical Islamists and their ideology is not compatible with our country, yes I do,' she said.  'So there are certain countries I probably would ban from coming into Australia.' Hanson did not name specific countries she would target, but tied the burqa with extremist viewpoints.  'But can you tell me, do you believe that Sharia law, do you believe that female circumcision, do you believe that multiple marriages that the taxpayer paying for, is any good?' she said. Hanson also warned of potential security risks. 'Do you want to see terrorism on our streets, because this is the ideology that we've been bringing into this country,' she said. The Queensland senator said she would not soften her stance despite criticism, revealing one of her biggest fears. France and Denmark are among the countries that have banned burqas and face-covering veils 'I'm not gonna back away from this. I do not want Australia like Great Britain,' she said. Hanson has consistently called for a ban on the burqa and other face coverings. In her 2016 maiden Senate speech, she pushed for a ban on Muslim immigration and backed restrictions on Islamic dress, including the burqa. In 2017 and again in 2025, Hanson wore a burqa into the Senate as a protest and used the stunt to demand a nationwide ban on face-covering veils on security grounds, a move which was widely condemned by Islamic community leaders. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.