First Muslim woman in Australian senate

Mehreen Faruqi has joined Australia's senate as its first female Muslim member, on a day the country is caught up in a bitter row over racism, reports BBC.

Ms Faruqi, who was born in Pakistan, told the BBC that Australia's future would be "stronger for our diversity".

The Greens Party MP for New South Wales was appointed by the senate on Wednesday to fill a vacant seat.

It comes as another new senator faces condemnation for a speech calling for a "final solution" on immigration.

Ms Faruqi, who will be sworn in next week, was among the prominent critics of Fraser Anning's use of the Holocaust-associated term.

The trailblazing MP said Mr Anning had "spat in the face of millions of Australians, spewing hate and racism" in his first speech to parliament on Tuesday.