Pauline Hanson threatens legal action against Lidia Thorpe, Nine over ‘false’ racism claim

Pauline Hanson is threatening to take fellow crossbencher Lidia Thorpe and media conglomerate Nine to court for saying the One Nation leader was “convicted of racism”.

Senator Thorpe made the claim on Nine’s Today program on Thursday, a day after she was suspended from the Upper House for ripping up a motion by Senator Hanson and throwing it at her.

A statement released by Senator Hanson said lawyers for One Nation had sent letters to both Senator Thorpe and the media network demanding they “withdraw the allegation and apologise”.

“Media outlets repeating the false claim by Lidia Thorpe that Senator Pauline Hanson has been ‘convicted of racism’ have been put on notice they may face court proceedings,” the statement said.

“A conviction means being found guilty of a criminal offence, on the criminal standard of proof and being liable for criminal penalties. That has never occurred.

“No such criminal offence was raised against (Senator Hanson) and no such conviction exists.

“The letters further stated that Thorpe and the Nine Network were required to ‘immediately and publicly’ withdraw the allegation and apologise to Senator Hanson.”

Independent Senator Fatima Payman has labelled One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson a "disgrace to the human race", during an exchange in the Senate. The One Nation Leader attempted to table documents questioning Ms Payman’s eligibility to sit in parliament. Ms Payman, who holds dual citizenship, says Ms Hanson was avoiding a legislative agenda and wasting time. “You are just not vindictive, mean, nasty – you bring disgrace to the human race,” Ms Payman said.

While Senator Hanson has not been “convicted of racism”, the Federal Court has ruled her comments telling Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to “piss off back to Pakistan” were, indeed, racist.

The judge that made the ruling said Senator Hanson’s remarks were motivated by “the race, colour or national or ethnic origin” of Senator Faruqi, and was not made in good faith as a fair comment on a matter of public interest.

Senator Hanson is appealing the judgment.