2026-07-27
The Full Court of the Federal Court has today unanimously dismissed Senator Hanson's appeal against the ruling that she breached s 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Senator Faruqi's statement on the decision is as follows:
Today, justice has prevailed.
This win today is for every single person out there who has been told ‘to go back to where you came from’, for every person who has been made to feel that their belonging to this country is conditional, for every person who has been told to sit down, shut up and be grateful that you are here.
For me, this case was always about holding racism and its perpetrators to account. It was always about taking a step to dismantle racism and the structures that uphold it. One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s racism have harmed too many for too long.
I have always stood up to bullies and I always will. Hate speech is not free speech. The Court has re-confirmed this today.
Hate speech is being normalised in this country and I for one will not be a bystander. I will stand up to hate in the streets, in the Parliament and in courtrooms. This case is about our fightback against the far right.
Today’s victory is especially important for all of us because it comes at a time when the far right is fuelling rampant racism and so many are feeling fearful as fingers are pointed at migrants and Muslims and we are demonised. It tells us that we can take on the racists and the bigots, and those who would rather see us divided than united, and we can win.
What has floored me over the past three years is the number of people who have approached me in the street, in airports, at train stations, at my local grocery shop, and told me how much this case means to them. This victory is for you.
The world has changed since this case first began. The far-right is rising here and around the world. Israel’s genocide in Gaza has continued for almost three years, and our government has attacked and vilified people protesting against the genocide rather than ending their complicity and holding Israel to account.
The seeds for One Nation and their racism have been sown by Labor, who have watched on as the wealth and profits of corporations and billionaires grow, while every day working people's lives get harder and harder. Labor’s scapegoating and dogwhistling has also made it easier for One Nation to point fingers at migrants and Muslims and pretend that it’s all our fault.
These lies and this racism harms us, and it takes us further and further from a place where everyone feels safe, feels welcome, and has what they need to thrive.
The decision today is even more important, because we know that we are up against the far right. But we also know that if we fight, we can win. The Court has reiterated its message today that there are protections in this country against the vile racism so many of us face.
I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, my legal team, my family, my staff who have supported and encouraged me on this journey. And I want to thank everyone out there who has supported me - this win is for you.