Burka-clad visitors to Parliament to be kept behind glass

Muslim women who cover their faces will be forced to sit in a separate glass-enclosed public gallery if they want to watch the proceedings inside Federal Parliament.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate President Stephen Parry have approved new rules at Parliament House applying to anyone wearing "facial coverings".

The rules say: "Persons with facial coverings entering the galleries of the House of Representatives and Senate will be seated in the enclosed galleries. This will ensure that persons with facial coverings can continue to enter the Chamber galleries, without needing to be identifiable."

The enclosed galleries are usually used by visiting school parties.

more: Burka-clad visitors to Parliament to be kept behind glass

Muslim women who cover their faces will be forced to sit in a separate glass-enclosed public gallery if they want to watch the proceedings inside Federal Parliament.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate President Stephen Parry have approved new rules at Parliament House applying to anyone wearing "facial coverings".

The rules say: "Persons with facial coverings entering the galleries of the House of Representatives and Senate will be seated in the enclosed galleries. This will ensure that persons with facial coverings can continue to enter the Chamber galleries, without needing to be identifiable."

The enclosed galleries are usually used by visiting school parties.