A new law requiring Muslim women wearing burqas or niqabs in New South Wales to show their faces to police if required has been accepted by Islamic organisations and may be followed in other states.
The law, which extends to all forms of covering including motorcycle helmets, will give police power to establish identity by insisting faces be exposed during routine traffic operations such as licence checks and random breath tests.
It will also cover people suspected of committing a crime or who might be considered a potential security risk.
Refusal to comply would risk up to one year’s jail or a A$5500 ($6747) fine.
“I don’t care whether a person is wearing a motorcycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else, the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear,” NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said.
The law, which extends to all forms of covering including motorcycle helmets, will give police power to establish identity by insisting faces be exposed during routine traffic operations such as licence checks and random breath tests.
It will also cover people suspected of committing a crime or who might be considered a potential security risk.
Refusal to comply would risk up to one year’s jail or a A$5500 ($6747) fine.
“I don’t care whether a person is wearing a motorcycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else, the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear,” NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said.


