Why the Albanese government has banned far-right influencer and Trump supporter Candace Owens from entering Australia
The Albanian government has banned US political commentator Candace Owens from visiting Australia ahead of a planned speaking tour, saying her presence would “foster discord”.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke revoked the outspoken Conservative’s visa this weekend, preventing her from doing her planned five live speaking events next month.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about (Joseph) Mengele to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the ability to stoke disagreement in almost every direction,” Burke said.
“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is elsewhere.”
Owens, 35, 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.
Controversial American political commentator Candace Owens (pictured) has been banned from entering Australia ahead of a planned tour of her podcast’s live shows
Mrs Owens and her British husband George Farmer have three children. She became famous for her outspoken comments during Donald Trump’s presidency
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.’
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (pictured) personally oversaw Ms Owens’ application for a planned tour of her live podcast
Peter Wertheim, co-director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, argued Owen failed the character test under the Migration Act.
“At a time of unprecedented pressure on the cohesion of Australian society, largely the result of ignorant and malicious comments on social media, the last thing we need to import into our country is another so-called celebrity making racist and bigoted comments about Jews and other vulnerable groups,” he said.
Ms. Owens has thrown her support behind Trump in his campaign for re-election (pictured together at a Judicial Watch event)