Queensland Politicians To Vote On Whether To Ban The Burqa And Other Face Coverings

Queensland politicians will reportedly vote over whether to ban face coverings like the burqa.

According to the West Australian, MPs will be meeting this weekend for the Liberal National Party state conference, which will be attended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, Resources Minister Matt Canavan and David Littleproud.

Bans on face coverings have been introduced in several countries around the world and extend to people not just wearing religious veils like the burqa or niqab but also for those donning masks, helmets, and balaclavas.

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Congo, Turkey and Switzerland are the places, which have partial or full bans on face coverings.

The LNP meeting in Queensland will touch on tons of issues, but the potential ban on face coverings comes at a time when Australia is debating religious freedoms laws.

There's a push for a Religious Discrimination Bill to be introduced to Aussie legislation to protect people from being persecuted against because of their faith.

For example, it would protect someone like Israel Folau from being sacked by Rugby Australia for a social media post which said homosexuals, among other sinners, would be sent to hell for their sinful ways.

While it couldn't be used retrospectively, it would give grounds for people to not be discriminated against because of their religion.

Which is why it'd be an interesting move from Queensland because it's hard to argue for religious freedoms when a ban on the burqa would limit a Muslim woman's ability to practice her faith.

Politicians in the Sunshine State might provide some parameters for the ban like refusing face coverings only in particular areas.

It's also worth noting that it's only Coalition MPs who will be voting on the measure, despite Queensland having a Labor government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk denied a push from One Nation's Pauline Hanson in 2017 about a ban on burqa's in the state.

Ms Hanson said she didn't want to see the burqa in government buildings or schools, despite there already being a law in place to stop that from happening. But it hasn't stopped the One Nation leader from pushing with the plan.

"I'll look to bring this in for you nationally but will also enact it state by state so One Nation can guarantee the burqa is banned!" she said.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: religion, News, Australia, Politics

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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