An opposition lawmaker has proposed a ban on burka or full-face Islamic veil after a man carried out an armed robbery using the burka to hide his identity.

Liberal Sen. Cory Bernardi from South Australia, called for a ban on the use of the burka which he described as "emerging as the preferred disguise of bandits and ne'er-do-wells."

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Liberal leader Tony Abbott said they would not support a call for the ban despite the warning of Bernardi.

Some European countries are also discussing whether to ban the use of Burka. Belgian authorities last week moved to ban the use of burka and ordered to outlaw the full-face veil in public.

Bernardi made the call after an armed robber reportedly held up a man at a car park in Sydney on Wednesday. The armed robber, who was wearing a burka and sunglasses to hide his identity, took the victim's cash and bag.

The opposition senator described the burka as "un-Australian" and should be banned citing security and the betterment of the society.

"To me, the burka represents the repressive domination of men over women which has no place in our society and compromises some of the most important aspects of human communication," he said in his blog.

"It also establishes a different set of rules and societal expectations in our hitherto homogenous society."

But Abbott said Bernardi's comment was his personal view and does not reflect the view of the opposition.

He said many Australians think that wearing a burka as "confronting" and he wished that it was not widely worn. But he said the public should also respect the rights of other people and Australia do not have a policy ban on its use.