Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
High Court agrees to hear Pauline Hanson’s appeal over racial discrimination law
Australia’s High Court has agreed to hear Pauline Hanson’s appeal over racial discrimination law.
The case began after Hanson told Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to go back to Pakistan in an exchange on X in 2022.
Federal Court findings said Hanson’s comment was unlawful, and she is now challenging the legal basis for that ruling.
The case centres on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which bans certain speech based on race, and the Constitution’s implied freedom of political communication.
Hanson argues the law improperly restricts political speech, a dispute that could affect how Australian law balances those protections.
The High Court will now hear her appeal; it has not yet decided whether the law is invalid.
The High Court has agreed to hear One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s appeal over a ruling that she racially vilified Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi.
The court will consider whether the racial discrimination laws breached Hanson’s implied freedom of political communication.
The dispute began with posts on X in September 2022, after Faruqi criticised the British empire following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
In November 2024, a federal court judge found Hanson’s reply telling Faruqi to “piss off back to Pakistan” was unlawful.
The Full Federal Court unanimously upheld that ruling in July 2026.
- Who
- One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is appealing a ruling involving Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi.
- What
- The High Court granted Hanson special leave to appeal a finding that her post racially vilified Faruqi.
- When
- The court agreed to hear the appeal on 5 November 2026.
- Where
- The case will be heard by Australia’s High Court.
- Why
- Hanson argues that racial discrimination laws are invalid or improperly restrict freedom of political communication.
Pauline Hanson
Mehreen Faruqi
Racial discrimination law
Pauline Hanson
Hanson argues that the laws are invalid or improperly burden the implied freedom of political communication.
Mehreen Faruqi
Faruqi says the High Court should determine that people in Australia are protected against racism.
Hanson’s post
Pauline Hanson
Hanson challenges the finding that her response to Faruqi breached racial discrimination law.
Mehreen Faruqi
Faruqi says people targeted by racism should be protected and that she will not back down.
Faruqi and Hanson exchanged posts on X after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Justice Angus Stewart found Hanson’s post unlawful and ordered her to delete it.
The Full Federal Court unanimously upheld the ruling and dismissed Hanson’s appeal.
Hanson applied for special leave to appeal to the High Court.
The High Court granted special leave to appeal.
- Appealing senator
- Pauline Hanson
- Other senator
- Mehreen Faruqi
- Court ruling challenged
- November 2024 finding that Hanson’s post was unlawful
- Full Federal Court decision
- Unanimously upheld the ruling in July 2026
- High Court decision
- Special leave to appeal granted on 5 November 2026
5 sources
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What people are saying
Bring it on.
this case has always been bigger than me and bigger than one tweet
Australians must be able to speak their minds, question their government and disagree with each other without being frightened into silence
The Australian government’s position is clear: there is no place for racism or racial hatred in our society.