We believe igniting national debate about Australian Muslim women’s choice of clothing promotes fear and contempt against Muslim women and, as such, is divisive in our unique multicultural society that values differences such as those based on ethnicity, religion, race and gender identities. 

That this issue has been focused on against the backdrop of the Islamic State terrorism overseas is extremely troubling and negligent.  It ignites community tension and escalates existing racism and violence against a group of Australian women in our society. 

That it has targeted a silent and vulnerable group of Australian women and connected their uniquely attired presence in Parliament to notions of security and safety defies the very essence of freedoms under our democracy. Instituting a ban on the burqa, or segregation of women who wear it in Parliament has no legal precedent in parliamentary history and harms our reputation as a nation.  

As members of a secular democracy, women’s dress code should be beyond the control of the state.  All women living in Australia are entitled to live freely, without fear of political persecution because of their choice of dress. 

We call on you, as Prime Minister and Minister for Women, to show moral leadership and publicly call for the valuing of ALL women in our society and reject all calls which limit the sovereignty of a woman's right to choose.