- Jacqui Lambie lost her head to Green Senator Mehreen Faruqi
- He started shouting in the Senate.
Jacqui Lambie has launched a scathing attack on Green Party Senator Mehreen Faruqi, branding her “religiously racist” for trying to pass a motion to publish private emails from Jewish groups.
Ms Faruqi, the New South Wales senator, attempted to pass a motion on Wednesday that would have made public documents from Jewish organisations and correspondence from Human Rights Commission staff.
The motion was part of an effort by the Greens to uncover details about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Before the vote, Senator Lambie, an independent from Tasmania, was granted permission to make a one-minute statement.
She said calmly that Senator Faruqi often speaks out against racism, adding: “There is nothing wrong with that, we should all do that.”
Ms Lambie then said Senator Faruqi’s motion had “completely crossed the line” and the situation degenerated into shouting from both sides as her minute ended.
Pictured: Mehreen Faruqi in the Senate on Wednesday evening, as she tries to pass her motion.
Ms Lambie referred to ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, who last week urged leaders to be careful not to use inflammatory language when discussing international issues.
He accused the Greens of doing the opposite.
“Here we are again, and here are the Greens again, fuelling division and whipping up hatred,” he said.
‘Imagine if a motion were put forward in this place calling for all correspondence from Muslim groups and staff of the Human Rights Commission.’
He accused the Greens of misleading the Commission, called the party “hypocrites” and shouted: “I hope their voters punish them in the next elections.”
Senator Faruqi made an inaudible comment.
Senator Lambie again shouted: “You are a religious racist! It is absolutely disgusting.”
Pictured: Senator Jacqui Lambie lashes out at the Greens and Senator Faruqi
“You are religiously racist.”
Senator Lambie later complied with the request to withdraw the comment.
The motion was divided in opinion. It was ultimately rejected by 12 votes in favour and 28 against.
The Greens pledged allegiance to Palestine following the Hamas attack on October 7.
They have repeatedly called on the Albanian government to impose sanctions against Israel amid the ongoing deadly conflict between the two states.