A bill prompted by the actions of a burqa-wearing woman in New South Wales has been introduced into State Parliament by Nicklin independent Peter Wellington.
But Mr Wellington stressed his bill was not targeted at any particular group and distanced the move from controversial French legislation aimed at preventing the wearing of burqas.
“It could apply to a person wearing a Darth Vader mask, or whatever people wear that covers their faces,” Mr Welllington said of his proposed amendment to the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 and four other Acts.
It would provide that, in circumstances where a police officer, corrective services or similar officer, or a lawyer, Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations needs to identify a person they can lawfully demand that the person remove any face coverings so the face can be seen.
It will be considered by Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee.
Mr Wellington said the bill was drafted as a response to the 2011 case of burqa-wearing Sydney woman, Carnita Matthews, who had a charge of making a false statement dismissed because there was no proof it had been her inside the burqa.
He said it was not directed against the wearing of burqas generally.
“It is not even specifically directed at burqa-wearing women, though the need for it was demonstrated by one such person playing tricks with the law,” he told parliament.
“I believe people should reveal their face to persons in the legal system that need to know who they are.”
The Bill defines “face” as from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and between, but not including, the ears.
“Most Muslim women, Sikh men wearing turbans and Catholic nuns already display this much of themselves to the world, Mr Wellington said.
“So the law will only impose an extra obligation on people masking more of their face than those three groups,” he said.