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First female Muslim senator sworn in

Mehreen Faruqi (centre) is sworn in as the country's first female Muslim senator.

Mehreen Faruqi (centre) is sworn in as the country's first female Muslim senator. Photo: Twitter/Australian Senate

Australia’s first female Muslim senator has been sworn in to parliament, less than a week after a crossbencher’s incendiary speech about immigration.

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi officially replaced factional rival Lee Rhiannon in the upper house during a ceremony in Canberra on Monday morning.

Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning last week called for Muslims to be banned from migrating to Australia in a widely condemned first speech.

On Monday, Senator Anning shook hands with his new colleague, congratulating her on entering parliament in a brief exchange.

Fellow Greens embraced Senator Farqui, who migrated to Australia from Pakistan in 1992 and had represented the party in the NSW upper house since 2013.

“After last week particularly, it is really good to have you here,” Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong told Senator Faruqi.

Independent Derryn Hinch said he was thrilled the new Greens senator was in parliament.

Liberal-National senator Ian Macdonald also congratulated Senator Faruqi, before joking it was “probably the only nice thing” he’d say to her.

-AAP

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