Right: Senator Corey Bernardi, who declared recently that burqas were now the "preferred disguise" for robbers and other "ne're-do-wells".
Web links and documents
On May 6, 2010, the ABC's Internet opinion site, The Drum, reproduced Senator Bernardi's blog, in which he calls for a ban on the burqa. The Senator's comments can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2892060.htmOn June 30, 2009, Age commentator, Virginia Haussegger, posted a blog comment titled 'Ban the Burka' in which she condemned the burqa as a symbol and means of female subjugation and criticised those Muslim women whom she believes conspire in their own oppression.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://virginiahaussegger.blogspot.com/2009/06/ban-burka-27-june-2009.html
On July 17, 2009, Julie Posetti responded to Virginia Haussegger in another blog posting titled, 'Banning the Burka: An "UnAustralian" Idea". In this piece Posetti argues at length against Haussegger's claims. The full text of Posetti's argument can be found at http://www.j-scribe.com/2009/07/banning-burka-unaustralian-idea.html
On March 21, 2010, the Internet site of the British newspaper The Guardian and The Observer published two opposing comments under the heading 'Is France right to ban wearing the burka in public?'
It gives the opinions of Egyptian-born columnist and lecturer Mona Eltahawy in favour of the proposed French ban on the burka in public; and actor and playwright Stephanie Street taking the opposite view.
The full text of these arguments can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/mar/21/debate-on-french-burka-ban
On May 7, 2010, Crikey published an opinion piece by Greg Barns arguing that Senator Bernardi's views were discriminatory and potentially in violation of Victoria's anti-racial vilification legislation. The full text of this comment can be found athttp://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/07/corey-bernardis-sinister-plot-to-ban-the-burqa/
On May 14, 2010, The Daily Telegraph published a news report outlining Fred Nile's reasons for presenting to the New South Wales parliament a private members bill calling for the banning of the burqa. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/right-says-fred-nile-ban-the-burqa/story-e6freuzi-1225866326004