I don't give a damn if stupid women are prepared to, or even want to wear the horrible thing. Lets face it, the real reason for the things, is some men do not want it shown publicly, that their womenfolk are as ugly as a couple of garbage tin lids.

My only interest is in identification, & safety.

Provided I can demand the removal of the thing if I feel unsafe with a masked person near me, & those so attired are never allowed in control of a vehicle on public roads, with such restricted visibility, I don't mind some men protecting their pride by covering their womenfolk.

Incidentally, isn't this a typically useless bit of meaningless academic fluff? Much more importantly we should be demanding we stop wasting taxpayer dollars paying fools to produce such garbage.

Hasbeen, yes most of the female forms I see covered in a chador are almost as wide as they are high but the young Muslim girls around here push the Islamic dress code to the absolute limit. Around here a Hijab is often coupled with gym gear or leggings and form fitting tops leaving little to the imagination, I have two daughters in high school and I'm well aware of the tricks of the trade and the liberties young women will take when their parents try to enforce modesty in attire.
You can see young Amirah or Noor leaving home with the standard hijab, long coat and skirt on and by the time she arrives at Westfield to meet her friends she's wearing a completely different outfit, yoga pants, Nikes and a long T-shirt.

If some Islamic women wish to wear the Burqa, then why not ? As long as we men can wear a full face motor cycle helmet whenever we choose ?
Somehow I don't believe the latter would ever be permitted. For this reason the Burqa should be discouraged as not being consistent with the Australian culture, but 'banning' it, is clearly wrong.

What must be mandated; a total prohibition on 'face covering' in such areas, where clear facial identification is necessary; Banks, Airport Security/Immigration areas, law enforcement requirements, etc.

My biggest concern is the inevitable spread of that awful curse of Islamic radicalization, right here in our Sydney suburbs ! Issues of wearing the Burqa is nothing compared to this insidious menace !

The "tent things" that some people put on their heads are an insult towards Australians, there are elements who are using these "wedges" in an attempt to change our society to their way of thinking and bring in "laws" that are abhorrent NO THANKS; NO ONE has the right to go in public warring a disguise, it is alarming and "normal" people have the right to be fearful of such people, any one who thinks these contraptions are acceptable IN PUBLIC have serious mental problems, we do not know what is being hidden under these weird garments. The excuse that it is some form of religious right is not plausible. The general public must be able to identify people during any investigation, if I see any of these "things" I will report it to Police, we don't need a Referendum, we need these recalcitrants to conform to OUR LAWS or leave to someplace where that they would be happier.

Ayatollah you already: I said hijab, not head-job!

By the way, here is Charlie Hebdo's take on the burqa.

Translation: "Yes to wearing the burqa ... on the inside."

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=charlie+hebdo+cover&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSxQEawgELEKjU2AQaAAwLELCMpwganAEKOggCEhSGFboL9hO_1C58O7giAF4AI8iGqDhogTfFg1cgGTpPYkDMSYNdkb2ZqCHVTrXdLD8dgbIr_15A0KXggDEiiIFIwUiRTzA9od2R2HFJMUixT9CZguly7zJM899iSIOOMt8y3QPfstGjBlgpuEl7zTA_1iVh1yHpmA3xeIrJv0doNULFse_1Nyk7Zd9bavjTkxkkF6smYkQfLX0MCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgRyFJdgDA&sa=X&ei=3OXOVICKL9Ti8AWb2YKQCg&ved=0CBoQwg4oAA&biw=1240&bih=657