What we learned: Monday, 24 November
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Thanks for reading; Krishani Dhanji will be back first thing tomorrow to keep you company.
Here’s what made news:
Senators across the political divide have strongly condemned Pauline Hanson’s latest burqa stunt.
Politicians and staff in parts of Parliament House were urged to turn off their phones, laptops and internet during a visit by Chinese officials.
Malaysia has announced it will follow the Australian government’s lead with plans to ban people younger than 16 from accessing social media.
The Greens say Labor’s nature laws are “still not good enough to protect the planet” and are demanding further changes in exchange for agreeing to pass them.
Environment laws must “actually protect nature” says David Pocock, who has 15 changes he wants the government to make on its EPBC reforms.
The environment minister, Murray Watt, says he’s not happy with the price hike of the Bureau of Meteorolgy’s new website.
Not-for-profit NDIS providers are leaving the system, says Dr Martin Laverty, who helped design the national disability insurance scheme.
Have a good evening.
Updated
Special envoy against Islamophobia condemns Hanson’s latest stunt
Australia’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says he’s frustrated by Pauline Hanson’s stunt in the senate this afternoon.
He just published this statement on social media:
This will deepen existing safety risks for Australian Muslim women who choose to wear the headscarf, the hijab, or the full face and body covering, the burqa (which past estimates placed at around 250 women in all Australia).
They already face harassment, threats of rape, and violence, not because what they have done, but because of what they wear.
Veiled Muslim women have long been easy targets for bigotry and intolerance against Muslims. A proposed burqa ban will further stigmatise them as outsiders and embolden harassment and abuse.
All women should be free to choose what they wear or do not wear.
Updated
