Cory Bernadi on terrorism raids: Burqas ‘not right’ in Australia

CONTROVERSIAL Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi is at it again, using this morning’s terror raids to take aim at burqas.

Aust politician SA Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi.

CONTROVERSIAL Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi has this morning stood by a controversial tweet linking Australia’s biggest terror raids with the burqa.

Mr Bernadi was commenting on the largest terror raids in Australia’s history when he appeared to call for the head dress to be banned:

Note burqa wearers in some of the houses raided this morning? This shroud of oppression and flag of fundamentalism is not right in Aust

— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) September 17, 2014

The tweet comes as investigations continue into the raids conducted by ASIO and the Australian Federal Police who have launched a number of raids across homes in Sydney and Brisbane.

Mr Bernadi's’s view appears to be in stark contrast to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s claim last week that terrorism has nothing to do with religion.

Mr Abbott who last week raised Australia’s terror threat to high said: “We have no specific intelligence of particular plots.

“What we do have is intelligence that there are people with the intent and the capability to mount attacks.”

“Nothing that I have said today ... has anything to with religion. This is about crime, potential crime and combating crime.”

But a spokeswoman for Mr Bernadi told news.com.au today the senator “stood by everything he has said in this respect”.

Mr Bernadi also told ABC News: “I have repeatedly raised the security and identification issues associated with facial coverings (inc burqa)”

When asked about Mr Bernadi’s comments at a press conference in Arnhem Land Mr Abbott said: “This isn’t about people’s religion, it’s not about what people wear, it’s about potential terror attacks here in Australia.

“We shouldn’t fret about people’s faith, we shouldn’t fret about what people wear, we should guard against crime.”

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said he had no time for Mr Bernadi’s “stupid comments”.

“The last thing we need at a time like this are ignorant comments from Government MPs that feed prejudice,” Mr Shorten said.

“As I said on Sunday, we must refuse to submit to this type of fear and intolerance.

“We must jealously guard the harmony of our society - it’s what makes Australia so remarkable.”

Meanwhile, Mr Bernadi, who is no stranger to controversial statements, was quickly shot down by people on social media who called his response alarming and shortsighted.

@corybernardi @KnottMatthew I noted there were left handed people as well. #bealert #beafraid #panic

— Tim Mackay (@timqfadvice) September 17, 2014

@corybernardi seriously? I mean i wouldn't wear one myself, but it's a free country.

— Bec Fist (@fistjourno) September 17, 2014

@corybernardi now vice captain of the #CrusadeCoalition

— tim neeson (@timneeson) September 17, 2014

@corybernardi You know I feel the same way about people who wear ties. Just not right!

— Andrew Wilcox (@cryogyny) September 17, 2014

@corybernardi @timneeson I feel the same way about jeggings.

— Baron Von Mueller (@PollHereford) September 17, 2014

Hi @corybernardi, a lot of t-shirt wearers too. Should we ban t-shirts? Oh, of course we should. pic.twitter.com/sWUU5gX3Zl

— AyChaySea (@8one3) September 17, 2014

It wouldn’t be the first time Mr Bernadi has sparked outrage with comments regarding burqas.

In 2010, Mr Bernadi called for the Islamic head dress to be banned following an earlier robbery in a Sydney store by a burqa clad man.

The call was quickly slammed by Islamic leaders who labelled it a political stunt aimed at tapping into anti-Islamic sentiment.