A pre-election publicity stunt by the Rise Up Australia Party has fallen flat.
Party members headed to Dandenong mall today to ask women wearing burqas to remove their veils.
But when no burqa-wearing women crossed the Party’s path, members were left to hand out campaign brochures.
Meanwhile, the majority of passers-by rejected their call for a burqa ban, instead telling Leader people had a right to wear whatever they wanted.
The stunt followed recent controversy over whether women should be allowed into Parliament House wearing the Muslim religious garments.
During a recent interview on Channel 7’s Sunrise program, Palmer United senator Jacqui Lambie said the burqa was a security threat.
In response, Muslim Women’s Association executive officer Maha Abdo asked Ms Lambie whether she had ever requested a Muslim woman to take the veil off, to which she replied ‘no’.
Rise Up Australia National President Daniel Nalliah said the party plan had been to put the question to the test in Dandenong.
“I have no problem with people wearing the head cover, because if a Catholic nun can wear it, a Muslim woman can wear it and it’s their right to do that,” he said.
“But I believe the burqa is definitely a sign of unfriendliness and confronting.
“It also leaves you with the question of security, for example I have two daughters and if I see a person wearing a burqa going into the toilet while my daughters are in the toilet, how do I know if it’s a man or woman wearing the burqa?”
Among those campaigning was former adviser to Margaret Thatcher and climate change sceptic, Lord Christopher Monckton, who is visiting from Edinburgh.
Last year he was in Canberra to launch the party nationally at the Press Club and three weeks ago he attended the state launch at St Kilda Town Hall.
Lord Monckton’s personal views on the burqa ban differed from the party’s.
“People should be free to wear what they like, but they should not be made to wear a burqa if they would prefer not to,” he said.
“There are certain situations where people would feel more at ease if sometimes they took the veil off so that one could see their faces ... it’s a matter of personal taste, really.
“This has come up in French politics, in British politics and now it’s coming up here and I think in a way it stands for a growing concern that such a large proportion of all terrorist acts over the last 25 years have been done in the name of Allah, and I think there is a feeling that one would like to see the Muslim community more actively policing itself, so as to make sure the mosques are not used as recruiting grounds for terrorism.
“One knows that mercifully it’s only a small minority doing this, but that small minority has caused great harm and loss of life, and the Muslim community, unless it addresses these questions itself, will begin to get a very serious image problem.”
There were mixed reactions to the party’s anti-burqa message in Dandenong mall.
As members promulgated their “Keep Australia Australian” message, a brief turf war began with a charity campaigner, who strongly condemned their actions.
“I’m really annoyed because these people have no respect for what we’re doing ... this is our permitted area and we’ve asked them three times to leave,” Bella Hanby said.
“I don’t want to go anywhere near it, be a part of (a group) who thinks that asking a woman to unveil her face against her will is a positive thing.
“It’s none of their business, it’s their religion, it’s their way of life.”
Brenda and Vergim Lumanii, both 19 and from Dandenong, also condemned the proposed ban on the burqa.
“It’s a free country ... it’s just a scarf, that’s their religion,” said Ms Lumanii.
Sheer Ali, 40, Dandenong, said he was a Muslim, but did not believe there was a place for the burqa in Australia.
“No one can recognise you, so I don’t agree with (wearing a) burqa in this country,” he said.
Emily Barber, 21, of Footscray, said the burqa should not be banned and that people should be able to wear whatever they wanted, while 22-year-old Dane Dickons, of Narre Warren, supported the ban because people could commit crimes.
“It’s for the same reasons you’re not allowed to wear hoodies in banks and things,” he said.
On hearing about Rise Up Australia’s plans in Dandenong mall, Casey Multifaith Network president Jim Reiher described the move as ‘unkind, unhelpful and misguided’.
“If we want to ban it because it might be used badly, then let’s ban backpacks, handbags, loose clothing, long coats, make-up, wigs and sunglasses as well,” he said.
“To say ‘let’s put these women to the test’ and then harass perfect strangers in the street to ‘prove their point’ is not just mean spirited, it is really very cruel.”