Senator Mehreen Faruqi Demands University Divestment from 'Dirty Industries' and an End to Horse Racing Cruelty
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| Senator Mehreen Faruqi, |
The latest news concerning Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens, highlights her continued strong advocacy on several key portfolio areas, particularly animal welfare and international affairs/anti-racism.
🐴 Animal Welfare and Gambling Donations
On Melbourne Cup Day (November 4, 2025), Senator Faruqi, as the spokesperson for Animal Welfare, issued a media release calling for horse racing to be shut down, labeling the event a "carnival of cruelty" due to the regular death of horses.
2 She also demanded a ban on political donations from gambling companies, arguing that the industry's profits come at a "deadly cost to both animals and communities."
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🎓 Higher Education
On November 6, 2025, the Senate debated her private senator's bill, the Higher Education Support Amendment (End Dirty Uni Partnerships) Bill 2025.
4 This Bill seeks to compel universities to disclose and divest from partnerships with "dirty industries" such as weapons manufacturers, gambling, fossil fuel, and tobacco companies.5
🇵🇸 International Affairs and Protest
Senator Faruqi has maintained her outspoken stance on the Gaza conflict.
6 In July 2025, during the opening of the 48th Parliament, she held up a sign calling for sanctions on Israel and referencing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.7 This protest led to the Senate passing a motion that expressed "profound disapproval" of her action and resulted in her being banned from participating in any parliamentary overseas delegations during the 48th parliament.
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She has also called on the government to act on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering Israel to allow unimpeded aid into Gaza and has demanded that Australia sanction Israel and contribute to rebuilding Gaza.
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✊ Anti-Racism
The Senator has continued to use her platform as the Greens' Anti-Racism spokesperson, with reports of a heated Senate debate in September 2025 where she accused some parliamentary colleagues of "normalising" hate and failing to act on far-right extremism while "smearing and vilifying pro-Palestine activists."
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Her recent activities reflect her long-standing focus on issues of anti-racism, social justice, environmentalism, and animal welfare, often placing her in direct confrontation with the government and other Senate colleagues.
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