A plan to force burqa-wearing Parliament House visitors to view debates from behind glass is being reviewed.

Parliamentary officers decided people with facial coverings could only watch parliament from glassed-off galleries usually reserved for school children.

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott requested a rethink of the controversial plan, saying people in public areas of parliament ought to be allowed to wear what they want.

• Move on from burqa: Turnbull
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“There are some places where it isn’t appropriate to obscure the face,” Mr Abbott told reporters on Friday.

“There are other places where people should be free to do absolutely whatever they like and wear absolutely whatever they want because that’s right and proper.”

The interim decision – made by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate President Stephen Parry – came after a week of debate about the burqa.

Outspoken Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie plans to introduce a private senator’s bill banning the burqa in all public spaces, and the idea has the backing of Liberal senator Cory Bernardi and Liberal National Party MP George Christensen.

The prime minister ruffled some feathers earlier in the week when he admitted he finds the Islamic garb confronting and wishes people chose not to wear it.

He isn’t backing down from that position but says it’s not the role of a democratic government to tell people how to dress.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten agrees and says segregation is “not the way to go”.

The rethink comes as Australia prepares to begin air strikes in Iraq as part of a multi-national effort to combat Islamic State.

Mr Shorten said the action in Iraq is about preserving diversity and tolerance.

“We’re asking our troops today to risk their lives,” he said.

“It’s important that our parliament measures up in the same way we expect our young men and women to measure up overseas.”

Labor and the Greens are worried the interim decision signals that it’s okay to treat Muslim women poorly, and independent MP Andrew Wilkie has slammed the move as “religious apartheid”.

The only Muslim federal MP, Labor’s Ed Husic, also condemned the decision: “It’s not right, it’s deeply disappointing.”

Former Labor Speaker Anna Burke said the plan came “out of nowhere” and was devoid of any logic or rationale.

Senior government minister Malcolm Turnbull implored Australians to move on from the burqa debate.

Mr Abbott says he regrettably didn’t read the memo on the plan to segregate burqa wearers, but stepped in when he learned about the decision.

He is confident the issue will be “fully resolved” before parliament resumes in two weeks.

AAP