Australian PM Tony Abbott not in favour of burqa in parliament

However, Abbott stated that there was no record of the burqa ever being worn into the building. “Has anyone ever sought entry to this building so attired? As far as I am aware, no,” he said. “And making a big song and dance about a hypothetical situation I am not sure is particularly helpful. But I just want to stress that this is a secure building and 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 said.

“I have said before that I find it a fairly confronting form of attire,” he said. “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 the government to tell people what they should and shouldn’t wear,” he said.

The burqa debate was pushed by a politician Jacqui Lambie who had called for a widespread ban even in public places. The call was backed by coalition backbenchers Cory Bernardi and George Christensen. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who does not support a burqa ban in Parliament House, called on Abbott today to quieten the voices within his party “out there pushing socially divisive arguments”.