‘Bring it on’: Pauline Hanson to appeal Mehreen Faruqi racial discrimination ruling in high court

One Nation leader granted special leave to appeal after full federal court earlier this year agreed Hanson portrayed Faruqi as a ‘second-class citizen’

Australia’s high court has agreed to hear Pauline Hanson’s appeal against a ruling that she engaged in racial discrimination against Mehreen Faruqi when she told the Greens senator to “pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan”.

The One Nation leader was granted special leave to appeal on Thursday after the full federal court earlier this year unanimously upheld a 2024 decision.

The high court will examine whether Hanson’s comments breached the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) or if the federal court decision impeded her implied freedom of speech.