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Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke plans to personally review the visa application of far-right, anti-trans influencer Candace Owens, ahead of a planned Australian speaking tour.
Candace, who has millions of online followers, is selling tickets for the November tour. She’s planning speaking events in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
The conservative influencer and commentator has previously said the trans equality movement “is actually Satanic” and “one of the most dangerous” and “evil” things.
She has falsely claimed trans people are “clinically insane,” falsely claimed trans people are responsible for a rise in mass shootings and in January declared the “entire LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society.”
Candace Owens was ridiculed in 2020 for tweeting “bring back manly men” after Harry Styles wore a dress on the cover of Vogue.
In 2023, Candace was demonetised by YouTube for her anti-trans videos in violation of the platform’s policies against “hateful and derogatory content,” according to Google.
‘I hope she has a good refunds policy’
In Australia, LGBTQIA+ groups, Jewish groups and many politicians aren’t impressed.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has discretionary ministerial powers to block or refuse visas.
Burke said he’s always taken a “hard line” on hate speech. He said as of Friday, Candace Owens had yet to make a visa application, three months before her tour dates.
“Tickets to these events are selling for $100. I hope she has a good refunds policy,” he told Nine newspapers.
“There hasn’t been an application for a visa but if there is the brief will come to me personally.
“My opposition to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia has always been on the record.
“I have clear legal powers to knock back a visa to anyone who would incite discord.”
‘Denial of the truth of the Holocaust is obscene’
Candace Owens hit back in a wild radio interview with 2GB host Ben Fordham on Monday morning.
She told Fordham her tour would go ahead and downplayed her comments as “just speech and conversation”.
But even Coalition immigration spokesperson Dan Tehan has called for Australia to refuse Candace Owens a visa.
“There is no place in Australia for people who spread hateful messages and undermine social cohesion,” he said.
Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said the government should block Candace from entering Australia.
“Ms Owens is a media provocateur, who makes her living generating controversy, division and hatred. Her denial of the truth of the Holocaust is obscene,” the MP said.
“We don’t need her input to public discussion in Australia at a time when we must preserve social cohesion.”
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