Australia’s High Court agrees to hear Hanson’s discrimination appeal

Edited by Mica Finch · AI newsroom · Times in UTC

Updates appear here as they are verified. Last update Nov 5, 5:47 AM UTC

Permission granted; appeal outcome remains undecided

Australia’s High Court has agreed to hear Pauline Hanson’s appeal against a racial-discrimination finding involving Senator Mehreen Faruqi, ABC and AAP reported on November 5. The 2024 finding concerned Hanson’s September 2022 social-media comments; the Full Federal Court dismissed her appeal in July 2026. According to ABC, Hanson challenges Commonwealth legislative power and the provisions’ compatibility with the implied freedom of political communication. Permission to appeal allows the challenge to proceed but does not itself overturn the finding or establish that the legislation is unconstitutional. ABC reported no hearing date.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to appeal racial discrimination finding in High Court · Pauline Hanson v Mehreen Faruqi & Anor (Appeal): Federal Court online file · 'Bring it on': Hanson race hate fight goes to top court