Fairfax Media journalist Francis Keany tweeted comments from Palmer United Party's Senator Jacqui Lambie on Wednesday.
Senator Lambie's rationale is that the burqa and niqab represent a threat to national security.
But when pushed on whether it would breach basic religious freedom laws, she could not answer.
Senator Lambie is one of a handful of parliamentarians campaigning to ban the burqa on security grounds. The Prime Minister's influential Chief of Staff Peta Credlin is reportedly "sympathetic" to the move.
Asked about his position Mr Abbott maintained any laws around the burqa or niqab would not be passed because "it's a free country".
It was left to newly nominated AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin to rubbish claims the burqa was a "threat" to national security: "I’m not going to buy in whether it should be banned or not".
Let us all join hands and rejoice the fact there is majority bipartisan opposition against bringing in such a ban. Like, look at former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell smacking down the trolls.