Oz parliament to create separate ‘burqa box’ in parliament for security
5 Oct 2014 5:07 AM IST
The plans were revealed when Latika Bourke, an Australian political reporter, posted a copy of the email explaining the rules on Twitter. The controversial plan, being dubbed ‘BurqaBox’ has caused outrage on social media. The email reads: ‘The Presiding Officers have indicated that their first priority is the safety of Parliament House, particularly its occupants... Persons with facial coverings entering the galleries of the House of Representatives and Senate will be seated in the enclosed galleries. This will ensure that persons with facial coverings can continue to enter the Chamber galleries, without needing to be identifiable.’
It says the changes will be implemented with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the Australian Times has reported that a campaign to outright ban the burqa at Parliament House has been led by a Liberal senator, Cory Bernardi, and that the idea may have the support of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Abbott has said that the burqa makes him ‘uncomfortable’ and that he ‘wishes it was not worn in Australia’. At the same time, he has said, ‘it’s not the business of government to tell people what they should and shouldn’t wear,’.
It says the changes will be implemented with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the Australian Times has reported that a campaign to outright ban the burqa at Parliament House has been led by a Liberal senator, Cory Bernardi, and that the idea may have the support of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Abbott has said that the burqa makes him ‘uncomfortable’ and that he ‘wishes it was not worn in Australia’. At the same time, he has said, ‘it’s not the business of government to tell people what they should and shouldn’t wear,’.
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