Peta Credlin supports burqa ban in Parliament House on security grounds
TONY Abbott says burqas are confronting and he wishes they weren’t worn. But he insists debate over a burqa ban is an issue of security.
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says he finds burqas confronting and wishes they weren’t worn. But he insists the debate over a burqa ban at Parliament House should be treated as a matter of security.
Mr Abbott’s comments come after his Chief of Staff reportedly gave support to a push that would see the controversial Muslim garment banned at Parliament House.
“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.”
The Prime Minister said it was a matter for the presiding officers as to whether the burqa was banned in Parliament House.
But he stressed it is a “secure building”.
“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.”
He urged against “making a big song and dance about a hypothetical”.
“Has anyone ever sought entry to this building so attired? As far as I am aware, no.”
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But shortly afterwards, Attporney General George Brandis said he had “no concerns with Muslims wearing the burqa”.
“I don’t have a preference either because frankly it’s none of (my) business,” he told the National Press Club.
“The way in which an 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.”
But the Attorney General said “that’s not to say that in certain circumstances people shouldn’t be required to reveal their identity”.
When it comes to Parliament House, Senator Brandis argued it was a matter for Police.
“But do I think people shouldn’t be allowed to wear the Burqa? No I do not. This is a free country, people should be allowed to wear what they like.”
The debate over the burqa intensified today after Fairfax media reported that the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Peta Credlin was sympathetic to the argument that the garment should be banned from Parliament House on security grounds,
The Prime Minister’s top aide is believed to have warned Liberal MP George Christensen not to inflame tensions present in the community during the debate.
The report said Ms Credlin told Mr Christensen she supports people’s right to wear the burqa in public, but — for consistency — supported the push for it to be banned like balaclavas and motorbike helmets.
Earlier, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten seized on the report, saying it was time for the Prime Minister to “control his own party”.
“I do think the time has now come for Tony Abbott to show leadership on this debate,” the Opposition Leader told reporters in Canberra.
“It is not good enough to talk tolerance and yet have your backbenchers out there pushing socially divisive arguments”.
“It’s blunt as this I think: Tony Abbott you’re the Prime Minister of Australia.
“Long after people have forgotten some of the extreme words of the bigots, they will remember the silence of our leaders.
“Australia deserves better than silence from our leaders. He should stamp on this issue today.”
But Coalition Senator Cory Bernadi, who has been vocal in pushing for the garment to be outlawed in Parliament House, welcomed the reports of Ms Credlin’s comments, taking to Twitter this morning to say his concerns were “just common sense”.
“It seems my security concerns about identity concealing garments in Parliament House is gaining support,” he Tweeted.
Senator Bernadi has written to the Speaker and the Senate President asking that they consider his request.
“Parliament House should be open to the people but we need to know the identity of the people who are coming in here,” he told Sky News last week.
Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie wants a ban on the burqa to go further — outlawing it from all public places.
The outspoken Tasmanian has drafted a private member’s bill, which she hopes MPs are given a conscience vote on.
“The need for these laws is real — because the threat to national and public security and safety by extremists is real,” she said in a statement on Monday.
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