Palmer steps back from the burqa ban debate

Clive Palmer has distanced himself from his party colleague’s call for a ban on burqas, calling for unity among Australians.

Clive Palmer (R) with his outspoken Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie. (AAP)

The Palmer United Party MP has called for Australians to stay united as controversy continues over calls by PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie to ban burqas.

Senator Lambie’s comments, made in response to SBS inquiries, called for an immediate ban on the wearing of burqa’s in public.

Speaking to SBS last week, Mr Palmer declined to comment, saying he was not aware of the push.

He added that only party policy can only be announced by the party leader.

Mr Palmer has since distanced himself further from Senator Lambie's comments, calling for Australians to stay united in a series of tweets posted overnight.

“We are a rich & diverse nation who enjoy a special country,” he posted.

“Challenge is dealing w/budget & measures that attack the fabric of society. We must think about who & what we are & where we want to go.

“We have strong obligations towards each other. We have lots in common, we love our families, freedom & our efforts to help each other.”

They echo comments made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week, who urged Australians to remember last week’s counter-terror raids were about crime, not religion.

“The police actions [on Thursday] were about crime,” he said.

“They weren't about any particular religion or any particular community.”

His comments also follow an awkward television interview by Senator Lambie on Sunday where she stumbled over the definition of Sharia law.

The outspoken Tasmanian Senator defended her stance against sharia - the moral, legal and religious code followed by all Muslims – but stumbled when asked what it was meant by ABC Insiders host Barrie Cassidy.

"Well I think, um, when it comes to, um, sharia law, um, you know to me it's um ... it obviously involves terrorism,” she said.

“It involves a power that is not a healthy power.”

Senator Lambie also used the interview to defend her posting of an image of Afghanistan's first female police officer, below.

The portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar, who was killed by the Taliban, was posted by Senator Lambie with wording portraying her as a terrorist.