Muslim women wearing burqas and niqabs can have their driving licence photographs taken after hours and are not restricted from entering public sector work.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal some of Australia’s biggest employers impose no restrictions on women wearing hijabs, niqabs and burqas to work unless it affects their safety.
This is despite promotion by rogue Palmer United senator Jacqui Lambie of a private member’s bill to ban burqas in public places.
Ms Lambie — who is unlikely to receive support for her burqa ban — claims wearing the garment is a national security issue.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman told The Daily Telegraph “headwear such as turbans and headscarves” could be worn when taking a licence photo. “The requirement for a licence photo is that the individual’s face must be seen,” he said.
“In cases where a woman also wears a veil, they can request to have the photo taken by a female staff member outside normal office hours.”
RMS workers — like all government workers — are not restricted from working the burqa, hijab or niqab in the workplace.
An Australia Post spokeswoman said their employees could wear the head-to-toe niqab or burqa. “Our workplace truly reflects the rich diversity of the Australian communities we serve every day,” she said.
A Telstra spokesman said the company had no specific “dress code policy” across its various departments.
Ms Lambie yesterday said “specific garments are an unacceptable and unnecessary public security risk”.
“We shouldn’t be afraid of offending the politically correct or the extremists,” Ms Lambie said.
Under the proposed Bill, burqas could only be worn at home or at places of worship. Ms Lambie denied the bill was racist.