Federal Labor has sided with One Nation after the right-wing party questioned the eligibility of independent senator Fatima Payman, who quit the governing party over its stance on Palestine.
Payman, who now sits on the crossbench, holds Afghanistan citizenship and has previously made representations to renounce it but hasn't gone any further following the Taliban's takeover of the country.
The government supported her successful bid to become a Labor senator in the 2022 federal election, but in July, she quit the party to sit in the upper house as an independent.
On Wednesday, Labor joined One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to allow documents to be tabled in the Senate questioning Payman's eligibility to sit in the chamber because of her dual citizenship status.
The issue centres on whether Afghan-born Payman violates section 44 of the constitution, which prohibits foreign citizens and dual citizens from sitting in parliament.
As Labor senators took their places to support the motion, independent senator Lidia Thorpe was heard shouting as she tore up the documents and threw them at Hanson.
Thorpe gave the middle finger over her shoulder as she left the chamber.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe walked out of the Senate chamber after throwing papers at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Hanson accused the Greens of forming a "protection racket" for Payman.
"This should be referred to a committee to be investigated if she is eligible to stand in this place," she told the chamber.
"I will stand my ground on this issue."
Payman called it "outrageous" that Hanson was taking such action when there was a legislative agenda to address.
"Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place. Maybe it's time that she pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban about this," she said.
"All Senator Hanson does in this place is spread hatred, spread division because that's what you're made to do here, and it's outrageous. It's beyond comprehension.
"I am very honoured that I live rent-free in Senator Hanson's mind."
In a letter to President of the Senate, Sue Lines, Hanson said Payman's disclosure of her citizenship status didn't include supporting documents, such as correspondence with the Afghanistan embassy or confirmation of the steps she took to renounce her Afghan citizenship.
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