A LIBERAL senator has suggested outspoken Muslim feminist Yassmin Abdel-Magied leave Australia for an “Arab dictatorship”.

Eric Abetz made the call — which Ms Abdel-Magied has described as “baffling” — after the controversial former ABC presenter called the government a “neoliberalism capitalist project” during a speech at a Canberra leadership forum this week.

Speaking on a panel at the Australian National University, Ms Abdel-Magied suggested the Australian parliamentary system had failed.

“The traditional parliamentary system, I mean look at the photo of the House of Representatives,” she said. “It doesn’t represent anyone.”

Asked by an audience member if there were alternative forms of government that might work “as western democracies falter”, she applauded the question and said it was assumed the “neoliberalism capitalist project” had worked for everyone.

Senator Abetz took issue with the comment, responding on Facebook, saying Ms Abdel-Magied was “effectively backing Arab dictatorships where forced marriages, genital mutilation and sexuality-based executions are legal and reprehensible”.

“If Ms Abdel-Magied thinks our system of government is so bad perhaps she should stop being a drain on the taxpayer and move to one of these Arab dictatorships that are so welcoming of women.”

Ms Abdel-Magied’s taxpayer funded projects were criticised after an Anzac Day Facebook post on Facebook which said “Lest. We. Forget. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)”.

After the controversial post was brought to attention there were calls for the Ms Abdel-Magied to be replaced as presenter of ABC 24 program Australia Wide and removed from the taxpayer-funded Council for Australian Arab Relations.

Australian Wide has since been cancelled.

Ms Abdel-Magied told news.com.au she found the Mr Abetz’s response baffling.

“I find it baffling that Eric seems to have taken such a keen interest in my movements,” she said.