PM says: ‘I wish it was not worn but we are a free country ... and it is not the business of government to tell people what they should and shouldn’t wear.’

The prime minister has made it clear he would not oppose a parliamentary ban on the burqa, saying he found it “confronting” and, although people should be free to wear what they want, the rules of secure buildings needed to be obeyed.

The issue of banning the burqa in Parliament House was raised last week by the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi as the government introduced national security reforms to the parliament.

At Bernardi’s request, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has requested an independent security assessment of the risks facial coverings in parliament and there could be a ruling from security advisers to ban it.

While Tony Abbott has emphasised national security reforms and discussions were not aimed at any particular section of the community he said the issue of the burqa was about clothing in secure buildings where identifying people was important.



“I have said before that I find it a fairly confronting form of attire. Frankly, I wish it was not worn but we are a free country, we are a free society and it is not the business of government to tell people what they should and shouldn’t wear,” he said in Canberra.

“We can all have an opinion, we can all have a preference but in the end it is up to the citizens of Australia to decide what they should wear. It is a little different obviously in a situation where people’s identity is important.”

A burqa ban in parliament would not be decided by the government but by the presiding officers and the Australian federal police, who are in charge of security for the building.

Abbott said people could be required to show their faces in buildings such as courts and that was “perfectly appropriate”.

Asked specifically for his opinion on a burqa ban in Parliament House, Abbott responded: “This is a secure building and it is important that people be able to be identified, it is important that people be able to be recognised as the people for whom a pass as been issued. In the end it is a matter for the presiding officers and for the security controller of the building.”

Abbott questioned how many people tried to enter parliament wearing a burqa, saying he was not aware of anyone visiting parliament while wearing one.

“If I could just stress, national security is too important to be made sport of, and we could have a huge national debate over whether or not the burqa should be allowed into Parliament House, but what useful purpose would it serve given that, as far as we are aware, no one has ever sought to enter into the building so attired and if access was ever sought under those circumstances, it would be dealt with appropriately by our security officers I am sure,” he said.

Abbott said the issue of national security was one of combating crime and the government would not target certain communities or religions because it would be “un-Australian”.

The incoming AFP commissioner, Andrew Colvin, said it was inappropriate for police to comment on speculation and different scenarios.

“Policing in this country is done without fear or favour in all circumstances. As the PM has said, we need to be careful not to make something of an issue that police deal with each and every day in suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.

Colvin said if someone tried to enter the parliament wearing a burqa it would be dealt with at the time.

“It is not about religion or about particular head dress, it isn’t about what somebody may or may not choose to wear,” he said.

“Policing in this country is done in order to provide the freedom so people can live the life the way they want to live it.”

The attorney general, George Brandis, told reporters at the National Press Club: “The way in which in a free country people choose to dress is a matter for them. It’s not a matter for governments to dictate to them how they are allowed to dress. Now, that principle applies to everyone, to you and me, to every Australian.”

He said a decision on the burqa in parliament was up to security officials and rules about face covering should apply to everyone, not just a particular garment.

The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Abbott should “stamp on the issue” and promote social cohesion.



“I think what’s being proposed is a dreadful proposition, it divides our society, we understand the threats to social cohesion can come from a range of sources, it can come from unemployment, it can come from poverty, but it also comes from stigmatisation and attacks on minorities,” he said.

“We understand we need the whole nation pulling together, challenging the domestic terrorism. Creating social division is exactly the wrong strategy.”