A government MP has called Prime Minister Tony Abbott's "Team Australia" phrase a "two-word slogan" and labelled the burqa debate an "unhelpful response" to a "significant undercurrent of anti-Muslim sentiment" .

Queensland Liberal Andrew Laming says he has intervened in the debate because of a "need for a moderating voice" following comments made by some of his colleaguesover the burqa.

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi kickstarted the burqa debate by tweeting on the morning of major terror raids in Sydney and Brisbane last month: "Note burqa wearers in some of the houses raided this morning? This shroud of oppression and flag of fundamentalism is not right in Aust".