Candace Owens unleashes on Australia after she was banned by Anthony Albanese’s government

Far-right political commentator Candace Owens has described the decision to ban her from Australia as ‘a small act of vandalism’.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke revoked the outspoken Conservative’s visa this weekend, preventing her from doing her planned five live speaking events next month.

Owens rose to prominence during Trump’s presidency, sparking outrage for her controversial comments on Israel, the Holocaust and LGBTQI issues.

In his decision to deny her visa, Mr. Burke cited Owens’ “ability to foment discord in virtually every direction.”

“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is elsewhere,” Burke added.

But 35-year-old Owens has hit back, describing the action as a ‘minor act of vandalism’.

“What you’re really seeing taking shape is that people don’t want me to be in front of an audience,” Owens said on her podcast.

“We all know what happened in Australia, and that’s the story this year: I’m not comfortable with the death that’s happening in Palestine.

‘The determined punishment I received for not turning a blind eye to this was intimidation.

‘I have accepted that. That is a much easier punishment than what these children endure every day.’

Owens became a prominent figure on the American right as one of the few African American commentators to challenge the Black Lives Matter movement, earning a lucrative deal with the conservative platform Daily Wire.

She has 5.8 million followers on Twitter and about 5 million on Instagram.

However, she was fired earlier this year by Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro over her criticism of Israel’s actions in the ongoing Middle East conflict and U.S. support for those actions.

Since that dismissal, she has been accused of a variety of anti-Semitic views and positions, which has led to a variety of Jewish groups opposing her visit to Australia and successfully lobbying the Albanian government to ban her from entering the country block.

The government received bipartisan support, with Liberal shadow immigration spokesman Dan Tehan also backing a ban.

The Candace Owens Live tour was set to kick off in Melbourne on November 17, with tickets priced at $95 for reserved seating and up to $1,500 for a pre-show VIP dinner with Owens himself.

“Join us for an exciting evening with Candace Owens, the outspoken and fearless American conservative social commentator, author, activist and YouTube sensation,” the tour’s promoters said on the tour’s website.

“Known for her controversial angles and unwavering stance, Candace will light up stages across Australia and New Zealand with her bold and unfiltered perspectives.”

Mr Burke had been raising concerns about her arrival on Australian shores for weeks.

“Tickets for these events cost $100. I hope she has a good refund policy,” Burke said in August.

‘No visa application has been submitted, but if there is one, the assignment will come to me personally.

‘My opposition to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia has always been clear.

‘I have clear legal powers to reverse a visa to anyone who would incite dissent.’

Owens’ tour promoter described the decision as “stupid” and labeled it “censorship.”

“Minister Burke’s reasoning is that he does not want Australians to be exposed to Ms Owens’ message,” a spokesperson added.

“Whether she is in the country or not, Australians have access to her message every day via social media, along with millions of viewers.

“This is clearly nothing more than political bias disguised as a public safety measure.”

Owens previously told Daily Mail Australia she was “completely shocked” by Burke’s position, saying it highlighted a huge divide between Australia and the US.

“It just couldn’t happen in America that a politician would be proud to come out and speak about using his power to take out a visa for someone who is not a criminal,” she said.

She said it would be a “stain on Australia – and not one that can be easily wiped away.”

‘I should be able to travel to a country because I am not a criminal.

‘I’ve never hurt anyone. I have never condemned anyone to violence. I have never been lightly accused of incitement to violence.’

While organizations have tried to have her events canceled in the past, Owens said she “hasn’t seen the government embrace that.”

“I’m fine with being invited to college and high school campuses to speak to kids, but I’m too much of a threat in terms of Australian politics?” she said.

It’s not the first issue Australia has faced after the country criticized government lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During a 2021 episode of her late night show, Owens denounced 5km travel limits, bans on household gatherings and curfews as “imprisoning citizens against their will.”

Throughout her political career, she said it was “the first time Australian politics became most relevant.”

“And I think the Americans and myself were quite shocked at how harshly the Australian government treated its people,” she said.

The visa issue has also taken her by surprise because of the starkly different approaches to freedom of speech and debate between Australia and the US.

“In America, we care a lot about freedom of speech – we care about freedom in general… and so this completely shocked me,” she said.

The commentator also addressed current issues in Australia, including immigration and the transition to renewable energy.

Owens supported Liberal party leader Peter Dutton’s calls to block immigration from Gaza for fear of welcoming Hamas supporters into the country.

‘Why should we accept refugees?’ she asked, adding that countries should not feel “bad” about turning away immigrants.

“For some reason the West has become a dumping ground,” she said.

“We have an identity, and it’s good to have an identity, and it’s so wrong to routinely try to make people feel bad about wanting to recognize their own country.”

She also described green energy as a “drive to further enslave humanity,” claiming that those pushing for the transition are not committed to the same goals.

“They can see how our lives are becoming increasingly difficult because they tell us to pursue things they don’t pursue,” Ms. Owens said.

‘I believe people know how to live off the land, how to grow their own food. I believe that your only protection against a totalitarian state is to be self-sufficient and resourceful towards your own neighbors.”

Owens said she would like to meet him and discuss their differences.

“I would like to meet someone who wanted to talk to me and thought I said something wrong,” she said.

‘If people actually meet me and hear the truth, they will register it as such.’