On the streets of Auburn in Sydney's south west, there is support for proposed police powers which would allow police officers to request the removal of Islamic face veils - and any other coverings - when motorists are pulled over.
"I mean the law as it stands if you're wearing a helmet you can't walk into a bank, and therefore if you need to be identified you should show your face", one person said in the suburb many Muslims call home.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We need to integrate in with society and if police need to indentify us, we need to obey the law", another said.
Currently, NSW police can ask Muslim women to remove veils during investigations of serious offences.
The proposed changes will allow them to compel removal during routine car stops too.
It stems from the case of Carnita Matthews who was convicted - and then cleared - of falsely accusing a police officer of forcibly trying to remove her burqa during a random breath test.
Jinane, who sells Islamic gowns, says there are ways around the sensitive issue of removing veils.
"They could politely asked to be taken in front of a woman and do it if they have issues doing it in front of a man. And that doesn't do any harm to anybody", she said.
I spoke to many other Muslim Australians today, including some wearing full face coverings, and without exception they all supported the new police powers.
But they didn't want to speak on camera, saying the issue had generated enough negative publicity for their community already.
Kuranda Seyit of the Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations says the issue withCarnita Matthews has been politicised and has been 'blown way out of proportion.'
He agrees that his community has been tarnished by the incident, and says yesterday's decision to change the law was made without consultation, and is unwarranted.
"We shouldn't just be making a change to our laws for what I believe is really an isolated incident."
Other Islamic groups have not been so critical, saying they accept the increased police powers.
The WA government says it's going to follow in New South Wales's footsteps, but Queensland wont, saying its current laws are adequate.
NSW says it will release details of the changes before parliament resumes in August.
