When Pauline Hanson shrugged off her burka costume, revealing her smug face revelling in the attention, it barely caused a ripple in the lives of Australian Muslim women.

It was if amnesia had taken hold. Forgetting that Muslim women had long ago been boiled down to a reduction, a caricature of oppression. That Muslim women had been fought over through the narratives of liberation, in the wars of culture, the lightning rod in the clash of civilisation debates.

Many Australian Muslim women have repeatedly raised concerns with the same parliamentarians who rebuked Ms Hanson, over the political rhetoric used by them when they have discussed issues such as terrorism, free speech and refugees.

We have grown to expect false consultations, reports on Australian values and citizenship, insincere platitudes and empty reassurances.

There is no power to fight the burden that falls on Muslim women to engage with racists, as if their racism was one big misunderstanding.

Malcolm Roberts and Brian Burston found Pauline Hanson's Senate burqa stunt hilarious. ( ABC News: Jed Cooper )

I'm expected to listen patiently to racists that lecture me on my religion, to debate neo-nazis, to participate in campaigns such as to "hug a Muslim" or "date a Muslim". Indeed, even large Muslim organisations and Muslim leaders advocate that narrative. To jump through hoops, with a pretty smile on my face, so that a common humanity is recognised.

When a terrorist incident occurs overseas, Australian Muslim women modify their behaviour in public and restrict their participation in public spaces.

At all times, we remain acutely aware of our safety and the safety of our children in public.

The food we eat, where we live, our relationship: they are all heavily politicised, lest of all our bodies and our dress.

This is our normal. This is our reality. As is the acceptance that we are politically disposable. We are entirely aware that we are a form of political currency, the value of which is dictated by the context.

Brandis is no hero

For Hanson, it was the star attraction in a stunt more closely resembling a year 12 muck-up day prank.

Senator George Brandis has been congratulated for (finally) calling out Ms Hanson's hate speech; but he is not an anti-racism hero.

George Brandis called out Pauline Hanson's stunt. ( News Video )

Even in his condemnation of Ms Hanson, he stressed that every single head of intelligence and Australian Federal Police commissioner has stressed how vital Australian Muslims are to Australia's national security. Time and time again, Muslims are viewed purely though a prism of security, where we are policed, our belonging questioned and our loyalties demanded.

The default position is to suspect us unless we have demonstrated our loyalty against an ever shifting line in the sand.

Many prominent Muslim advocates and "leaders" contribute to this binary to further their own agendas.

They should take heed of the comments made by Brandis: "that it is consistent with being a good law abiding citizen and a strict adherent Muslim".

Stunt backfires

I was not surprised to watch Ms Hanson play dress-up, nor her dressing down by Brandis. Using our Parliament as an act of political theatre was not invented by Ms Hanson; nor will she be the last actor on its stage.

It is surprising that Brandis and Co are that shocked over Hanson's stunt. How could they expect anything less?

Pauline Hanson actually demonstrated that a woman's choice of dress doesn't stop them being a senator. ( ABC News: Jed Cooper )

The political leadership in this country has allowed the cultivation and festering of the conditions that gave birth to Ms Hanson and her supporters.

It is far easier condemning dangerous right-wing ideology when it comes from outside your own political party.

The risk is that when the Senate resumes, the underlying racism that is fuelling this fire will still be burning. It is a fire that threatens to disintegrate the bonds that bind us as Australians.

Ironically, Ms Hanson demonstrated that the very security reforms she is erroneously pushing are effective and adaptable.

Ms Hanson was processed through the security checkpoints inside Parliament House and had her identification confirmed before entering Parliament.

In a strange and glorious twist of fate, Hanson demonstrated that a woman's choice of dress does not impede their ability to participate in our Parliament and contribute to the process of democratic decision-making.

Ms Hanson gave hope to little Hijabis and Niqaabis everywhere. Of course, little Hijabis and Niqaabis already know that.

It was more of a lesson for those who doubted it in the first place.

Lydia Shelly is a lawyer, community advocate and a legal officer at the Lebanese Muslim Association.