What might Pauline Hanson's burqa ban plan mean?

Pauline Hanson says she might propose a ban on the burqa in certain public buildings in Queensland.

Visitors of Afghan nationality wearing hijabs at Parliament House in Canberra Source: AAP

Misconceptions abound when the topic of Islamic headdresses is raised.

For instance, it is widely assumed women are obliged or even forced to cover at least their hair, that the styles of head coverings are standard across the Muslim world.

But a closer look reveals why, what and how Muslim women cover up is far more complex and it varies, depending on the cultural practices of individual countries.