Pauline Hanson, the Australian anti-migrant firebrand MP, has been condemned for an “appalling” stunt in which she wore a burka in Parliament as part of her push to ban it, prompting a rare standing ovation from MPs in support of a speech denouncing her.

The controversial MP, who leads the One Nation party, was widely condemned after she attended the Senate chamber in a black Islamic body covering, prompting gasps of shock from fellow MPs.

As she removed the covering, she said: “This is not what should belong in this Parliament.”