Pauline Hanson cleared after AFP ends investigation into Muslim comments and hate speech complaints
Federal police have made a determination after ‘reports of a crime’ following controversial comments by Pauline Hanson.
Australian Federal Police have discontinued its investigation into controversial claims by Pauline Hanson about Muslim Australians after finding they did not meet the threshold of new hate speech laws.
The One Nation leader drew ire in February after she suggested during an interview on Sky News that there were no “good” Muslims.
At the time, the AFP said it had received “reports of crime in relation to this matter”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.However, on Friday, the AFP said the matter had since been finalised with no findings made against Senator Hanson.
“In February 2026, the AFP received several complaints about public comments made by a Federal Parliamentarian,” an AFP spokesperson said.
“The AFP has determined the comments do not meet the threshold for relevant offences, including within the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026.”
The report stemmed from an appearance on Sky News by Senator Hanson to discuss so-called ISIS brides seeking to return to Australia, in which she said: “Their religion concerns me because what it says in the Koran … they hate Westerners.”
She added: “You say, ‘Oh, well, there’s good Muslims out there.’ Well, I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?”
Senator Hanson offered a partial apology for the statements at the time.
“If there was a person out there who was a Muslim and does not support sharia law, female circumcision, child marriages, who do not support our culture, wildlife and our laws, then I apologise,” she told Sky News.
Pressed by host Chris Kenny, who said he would give her the opportunity to apologise to Australia’s one million Muslims, she continued: “I’ve stated my case … and I’ve said, if I’ve offended people on what my beliefs are and they are Muslim, then I do apologise to those people”.
Senator Hanson claimed the reports to the AFP were: “In other words, they’re trying to use Labor’s new hate speech laws to put me back in jail.
“Let me send a very clear message to those within Labor and the left side of politics. Stop gaslighting the Australian public.”
The comments came amid One Nation’s meteoric surge in the polls, but faced pushback from both sides of the political isle.
The right-wing populist party’s favour has faded somewhat since then, though the party has remained adamant about plans to contest the 2026 Victorian state election.
Originally published as Pauline Hanson no ‘good’ Muslim claim not hate speech, AFP say
