Tony Abbott expresses support for parliamentary burqa ban, but colleagues do not

October 2, 2014

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Tony Abbott has expressed support for a push to ban the burqa from Parliament House on security grounds, prompting senior Liberal figures to distance themselves from the Prime Minister.

And with parliamentary officials expected to rule on a possible ban as soon as next week after receiving advice from security agencies, Mr Abbott's comments prompted a backlash from sections of the Muslim community.

Fairfax Media revealed on Wednesday Mr Abbott's most senior adviser, Peta Credlin, had told backbench MP and burqa critic George Christensen she also supported a ban in Parliament. Mr Christensen and South Australian senator Cory Bernardi have led the push to ban the garment in Parliament House.

Rather than hauling the duo into line, Mr Abbott said he found the burqa a "fairly confronting form of attire and frankly I wish it weren't worn".

"We are free country, we are a free society and it's not the business of government to tell people what they should and shouldn't wear," he said, before adding he was unaware of any record of anyone attempting to enter Parliament wearing the garment.

"I just want to stress that this is a secure building and it should be governed by the rules that are appropriate for a secure building and obviously people need to be identifiable in a secure building such as this".

But Attorney-General George Brandis appeared to distance himself from those comments, declaring that as Australia stepped up its efforts to combat the threat of domestic terrorism, "there could be no greater error than for Australians to demonise our fellow Islamic citizens".

"I have no concerns with Muslims wearing the burqa and I don't have a preference either because frankly it's none of [my] business," he said.

"In Victoria and in Melbourne we find it [wearing the burqa] an absolute vote of confidence in our multicultural society and our multi-faith society," Dr Napthine said.

AFP commissioner-designate Andrew Colvin said he did "not necessarily" support a burqa ban in Parliament but "we need to look at the circumstances, where it is appropriate, for us to make certain identification".

Muslim Women's Association executive officer Maha Abdo said the federal Parliament should implement NSW's rules, which require women wearing a burqa to temporarily remove the garment for identification purposes at airports and courts.

She expressed dismay at Mr Abbott's comments, questioning "why does he need to express his personal feelings about this issue – if he is really sincere about 'Team Australia' then that statement this morning certainly created a division in 'Team Australia'."

Islamic Association of Australia president Muhammad Wahid also backed the temporary removal of the burqa for identification purposes but stressed very few Muslim women wore a burqa in Australia.

"Being PM, he represents all of Australia so he has to choose his words carefully".

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop asked ASIO and the federal police for an independent security assessment of the garment on Wednesday at a meeting of the newly formed Parliament House security taskforce.

A rule change would affect veils such as the burqa and niqab that completely cover a person's face but not the hijab, or head scarf.

At present, anyone entering a private area of Parliament House with a covered face has to uncover their face. The rule change would extend to people with a covered face entering a public area.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who opposes a burqa ban in Parliament, said Mr Abbott should "stamp" on the issue and not allow his backbenchers to be out there "pushing socially divisive arguments".