RELATED: Jacqui Lambie's attempt to ban the burqa could be unconstitutional, say legal experts A LAUNCESTON Muslim community leader says Senator Jacqui Lambie is trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist by drafting laws to ban burqas in public places. The Palmer United Party Senator has confirmed she is pushing on with plans to introduce a private member’s bill in federal parliament this week designed to outlaw the all-concealing outer garments. Senator Lambie told The Examiner the garments were an unnecessary and unacceptable public security threat and must be banned immediately. ‘‘The need for these laws is great right now because we are officially at war with extremists,’’ Senator Lambie said. Wearing similarly concealing niqabs in public would also be illegal under her proposed laws, but wearing hijabs would not. Senator Lambie said she was hopeful to garner support from fellow senators but had not yet discussed the laws with PUP colleagues. Three backbench Coalition members have expressed support for a ban on burqas, including Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley, but PUP leader Clive Palmer has publicly distanced himself from Senator Lambie’s views. Senator Lambie insists the mooted laws are not racist or anti-Islamic, but instead address national security and women’s rights issues. ‘‘If you want to live under a different law, conceal your identity in public and be part of a movement which treats women like second class citizens, then please leave us in peace and go live in a country where that sort of behaviour is accepted,’’ she said. Muslim Student Association of Launceston spokesman Abdul Majeed said Senator Lambie was making a fuss out of nothing. ‘‘Ms Lambie probably has good intentions but is grossly overstating the alleged problem,’’ Mr Majeed said. ‘‘Of Tasmania’s 1800-strong Muslim community, I could count the number of people who wear burqas or niqabs on one hand.’’ Mr Majeed existing laws were adequate to guard against any possible public security threats. He said police and security officers already had discretionary powers to properly identify individuals wearing the burqas at customs and other security checks, and outlawing the garments in public would be completely unnecessary.
A LAUNCESTON Muslim community leader says Senator Jacqui Lambie is trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist by drafting laws to ban burqas in public places.
The Palmer United Party Senator has confirmed she is pushing on with plans to introduce a private member’s bill in federal parliament this week designed to outlaw the all-concealing outer garments.
Senator Lambie told The Examiner the garments were an unnecessary and unacceptable public security threat and must be banned immediately.
‘‘The need for these laws is great right now because we are officially at war with extremists,’’ Senator Lambie said.
Wearing similarly concealing niqabs in public would also be illegal under her proposed laws, but wearing hijabs would not.
Senator Lambie said she was hopeful to garner support from fellow senators but had not yet discussed the laws with PUP colleagues.
Three backbench Coalition members have expressed support for a ban on burqas, including Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley, but PUP leader Clive Palmer has publicly distanced himself from Senator Lambie’s views.
Senator Lambie insists the mooted laws are not racist or anti-Islamic, but instead address national security and women’s rights issues.
‘‘If you want to live under a different law, conceal your identity in public and be part of a movement which treats women like second class citizens, then please leave us in peace and go live in a country where that sort of behaviour is accepted,’’ she said.
Muslim Student Association of Launceston spokesman Abdul Majeed said Senator Lambie was making a fuss out of nothing.
‘‘Ms Lambie probably has good intentions but is grossly overstating the alleged problem,’’ Mr Majeed said.
‘‘Of Tasmania’s 1800-strong Muslim community, I could count the number of people who wear burqas or niqabs on one hand.’’
Mr Majeed existing laws were adequate to guard against any possible public security threats.
He said police and security officers already had discretionary powers to properly identify individuals wearing the burqas at customs and other security checks, and outlawing the garments in public would be completely unnecessary.
