The Nationals have voted down a motion to ban the burqa and other facial coverings in government buildings and other public spaces.
North Queensland federal MP George Christensen, who brought the motion to the federal conference, argued it was needed for security reasons but also noted the party was ‘bleeding to the right’ on issues like this.
The motion was defeated 55-51 by a vote of delegates at the conference in Canberra.
The Queensland MP had claimed facial coverings raised safety concerns, citing evidence from a number of incidents overseas and in Australia.
The Nationals have voted down a motion to ban the burqa and other facial coverings in government buildings. Pictured, Pauline Hanson wearing a burqa in the Senate
North Queensland federal MP George Christensen, who brought the motion to the federal conference, argued it was needed for security reasons
‘There is also the issue of it encouraging isolationism,’ Mr Christensen told reporters on Saturday.
The motion follows Pauline Hanson’s stunt in parliament last month, where the One Nation senator wore a burqa in the Senate.
‘The sensible thing to do is to ban the burqa and niqab in public buildings and spaces, leaving some exemptions for religious places of worship,’ Mr Christensen told The Daily Telegraph earlier this week.
‘It’s not an attack on religion — it’s an attack on a cultural garment which really is not conducive to the Australian way of life. There clearly is a threat to public safety and security and [people] should be forced to take them off if they refuse.’
The outspoken former chief whip of his party, whose seat of Dawson is under threat from One Nation, called for a burqa ban on his Facebook page on August 17 (pictured)
The outspoken former chief whip of his party, whose seat of Dawson is under threat from One Nation, called for a burqa ban on his Facebook page on August 17.
‘I do believe quite strongly that full facial coverings should be banned in all government buildings and in public areas,’ he wrote.
‘There are safety reasons for such a ban and it also has to be noted that the cultural reasoning behind facial coverings is quite sexist.
‘If you can’t see someone’s face it immediately creates a tension [and] a discord,’ he said.