Burqas could be banned at major airports and citizenship ceremonies under legislation introduced to parliament by right-wing senator Cory Bernardi.
The Australian Conservatives' leader on Tuesday introduced a bill banning facial coverings at commonwealth sites, including all public places in the Northern Territory and ACT.
The draft laws are unlikely to be enacted, with both major parties opposed to restricting the Islamic garment.
Senator Bernardi's push would also ban people from wearing facial coverings at Centrelink offices or citizenship ceremonies.
The former Liberal Party senator believes part of his draft laws which bans facial coverings at federal government-owned sites could extend to Australia's six capital city airports.
The legislation says it is designed to ensure national security and safety is paramount, while ensuring Australian values and cultural norms are respected including equality of women.
Labor and the coalition have emphatically rejected calls for burqa bans in the past, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson drawing a stinging rebuke for wearing the garment into parliament last year.
Source: AAP - SBS
