Australian senator Pauline Hanson wears burka in parliament - and her colleagues weren't happy

A senator campaigning for a ban on Islamic face veils has worn a burka in Australia's parliament.

Pauline Hanson wore a black burka covering herself from head to ankle for more than 10 minutes, before taking it off to explain that she wanted such outfits banned on national security grounds.

Her actions were met with anger from her fellow politicians within the chamber.

Ms Hanson is the leader of the One Nation party, which is anti-Muslim and anti-immigration, and she has spoken out in support of President Donald Trump.

"There has been a large majority of Australians (who) wish to see the banning of the burka," she said.

Attorney-general George-Brandis criticised Ms Hanson for the "stunt" and accused her of offending Muslims in Australia.

He was greeted with applause when he said the government would not ban the burka.

"To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done," Mr Brandis said.

Australia's opposition senate leader Penny Wong also condemned Ms Hanson as did opposition senator Sam Dastyari, an Iranian-born Muslim.

"We have seen the stunt of all stunts in this chamber by senator Hanson," said Mr Dastyari.

"The close-to 500,000 Muslim Australians do not deserve to be targeted, do not deserve to be marginalised, do not deserve to be ridiculed, do not deserve to have their faith made some political point by the desperate leader of a desperate political party."

Ms Hanson's identity was confirmed before she entered the chamber wearing the burka, said senate president Stephen Parry.

But he said he would not rule on acceptable standards of dress for the chamber.