One Nation announces it would ban burqas and niqabs in Australian schools – after Pauline Hanson clashed with female student
Students will be banned from wearing burqas, niqabs and other full-face coverings in Australian schools under a proposed policy unveiled by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
The controversial policy would apply to all schools, including Islamic and private institutions.
The ban would not apply to hijab headscarves.
It comes just days after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a similar ban in schools, where parents face fines of up to $1,140 if students break the rule.
One Nation says the proposal is designed to help children learn to communicate, build friendships, read facial expressions, speak with adults and confidently engage with society.
‘It is a simple requirement that when a student walks through the school gate, teachers and fellow students can see who they are speaking to,’ party education spokesperson Colleen Harkin said.
‘Teachers should be able to see the faces of the children they teach. Students should be able to see one another’s faces. Schools should also be able to identify the students in their care.
‘Schools should be a place where children learn about Australian citizenship, the values we share and what it means to belong to one national community.’
One Nation wants to ban students from wearing burqas, niqabs and other full face coverings in Australian schools
Teachers should be able to see the faces of the students they teach, according to Colleen Harkin (pictured left with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson
‘Girls should grow up knowing that they stand as equals to boys – equally entitled to be seen, heard, educated and to participate fully in Australian life.’
Harkin, who is running for One Nation in next month’s Victorian state election, described the recent ban in Italy as a ‘commonsense approach’.
‘Australia would hardly be breaking new ground,’ she added.
‘At least 24 countries have introduced bans or restrictions on full-face coverings such as the burqa and niqab, including Muslim-majority countries.’
Norway, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are among the other countries with similar bans in public.
The burqa school ban was not mentioned in One Nation’s Victorian policy booklet unveiled at its state election launch on the weekend.
Daily Mail has contacted One Nation for further comment.
Hanson recently visited the Islamic College of Brisbane, where she grilled female students about their decision to wear the niqab and questioned whether it was their choice.
Pauline Hanson recently confronted Islamic College of Brisbane students about their decision to wear a niqab
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently announced a ban on full face coverings in schools
‘We are seeing so much radicalisation happening in this country,’ she told the students.
‘People are in fear now of attacks. Most of those attacks come from radical Islam in this country. That’s where my concern is.’
Hanson acknowledged the students’ explanation for wearing the niqab but raised concerns about women feeling pressured to wear religious coverings.
‘It’s your choice. I acknowledge that and I accept that,’ she said.
‘But a lot of women are forced to wear it when they don’t want to.’
In 2025, Hanson infamously wore a burqa in the Senate chamber several times to protest the rejection of her previous proposal to ban full-face coverings in public.
