The Albanese government has banned US political commentator Candace Owens from visiting Australia ahead of a planned speaking tour, saying her presence would “incite discord”.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke canceled the Conservative’s visa this weekend, preventing her from holding five planned 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 incite discord 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 and earn a lucrative deal with the conservative platform Daily Wire.
He has 5.8 million followers on Twitter and about 5 million on Instagram.
However, Ben Shapiro, co-founder of the Daily Wire, fired her earlier this year over her criticism of Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the United States’ support for those actions.
Since that dismissal, she has been accused of a variety of anti-Semitic views and positions, which led to a variety of Jewish groups opposing her visit to Australia and successfully lobbying the Albanian government to block her entry into the country.
Controversial American political commentator Candace Owens (pictured) has been banned from entering Australia ahead of a planned live performance tour of her podcast.
Owens and her British husband George Farmer have three children. He rose to fame for his outspoken comments during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The government had bipartisan backing, with Liberal shadow immigration spokesperson Dan Tehan also supporting the ban.
The Candace Owens Live tour was scheduled to kick off in Melbourne on November 17, with tickets on sale for $95 for reserved seating and up to $1500 for a pre-show VIP dinner with Owens herself.
“Join us for an electrifying evening with Candace Owens, the outspoken and fearless American social commentator, author, activist and conservative YouTube sensation,” promoters state on the tour website.
“Known for her controversial opinions and unwavering stance, Candace is ready to light up the Australian and New Zealand stages with her bold, unfiltered perspectives.”
Burke expressed concern for weeks about its arrival on Australian shores.
‘Tickets for these events sell for $100. “I hope they have a good refund policy,” Burke said in August.
‘There has not been any visa application, but if there is, the report will reach me personally.
‘My opposition to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia has always been on record.
“I have clear legal powers to refuse a visa to anyone who incites discord.”
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (pictured) personally oversaw Ms Owens’ request for a planned tour of her live podcast.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim argued Owen failed the character test under the Migration Act.
“At a time of unprecedented tensions on the cohesion of Australian society, which is largely the result of ignorant and malicious comments on social media, the last thing we need to import into our country is another alleged celebrity who has made racist comments and intolerant towards Jews and other vulnerable groups,” he said.
Ms Owens has thrown her support behind Mr Trump in his re-election campaign (pictured together at a Judicial Watch event)