American Herald Tribune- Australian Premier Colin Barnett has made the bizarre claim he would not "encourage" Muslims to wear the burqa in public because "it's not part of our culture", the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Earlier this week, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson hit the headlines after saying she�would ban the burqa in all official buildings if her party wins the Queensland election.

With Ms Hanson set to jet into Perth on Wednesday afternoon to announce candidates for the upcoming March election, a reporter asked the Premier what he thought of One Nation's push to ban the burqa.

The Premier's shock response might be the earliest indication yet�the Liberal party might be buddying up to One Nation in the hope of winning a third term, with Ms Hanson in the box seat to determine the outcome of the March election, as�first predicted by�WAtoday�last November.

"We are not about to introduce laws in Western Australia to ban the burqa," he said.

"But I think when people come from other countries, other religious beliefs and other cultural issues, in relation to the burqa, I would encourage people not to wear that type of clothing in Australia and as Australian citizens.

"It is not part of our culture. I think in most countries now you don't find it's the case."

Counter-terrorism expert Anne Aly - the first Muslim woman elected to federal parliament - said Mr Barnett's comments were "ridiculous".

"Ridiculous comments like this just show the real choice in this election," the Labor member for Cowan told WAtoday.

*(Colin Barnettc. Image Credit: Commonwealth Foundation/ flickr)