Australia criticizes MAGA influencer Candace Owens with brutal line after denying her entry

SYDNEY (Reuters) – American far-right influencer Candace Owens lost her bid to enter Australia after the country’s highest court on Wednesday backed the government’s decision to deny her a visa over fears she could “incite discord” in the community.

Owens, who has built a large online following for his controversial conservative views, has applied for a visa to go on a speaking tour in November 2024.

His application was rejected in October 2024 by Home Secretary Tony Burke, citing his history of downplaying the Holocaust and making Islamophobic comments. Burke has powers to deny entry to non-citizens based on the character requirements set out in the Migration Act.

Owens appealed to the Superior Court, arguing that the power encumbered freedom of political communication, an implied right. Unlike the United States, Australia does not have an express constitutional right to freedom of expression.

On Wednesday, the Superior Court unanimously sided with Burke and ordered Owens to pay the government’s legal costs.

The court said the provisions of the Migration Act imposed a burden on political communication, but had a legitimate and justifiable purpose in protecting the Australian community from visitors who would “cause or encourage dissension or conflict on political issues”.

“Implied liberty is not a ‘personal right,’ it is neither unlimited nor absolute,” Superior Court Justices Stephen Gageler, Michelle Gordon and Robert Beech-Jones said in a joint ruling.

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Burke said the decision was a “victory for social cohesion.”

“Inciting discord may be how some people make money, but it is not welcome in Australia. Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is elsewhere,” he said in a statement.

The judges noted that Burke denied Owens a visa after examining her views and comments on areas such as “Holocaust denial, Islamophobia,” anti-racism, Black Lives Matter and anti-Semitism, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, and COVID-19 and anti-vaccines.”

Burke considered his views to be “extremist and inflammatory comments towards the Muslim, Black, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities that spark controversy and hatred,” and concluded that meant he failed the “character test” required for a visa due to the risk of “inciting discord” in the community.

It also concluded that allowing him to enter the country would not be in the national interest.

“Ms. Owens Farmer’s allegations should be emphatically rejected,” Superior Court Judge James Edelman said in a separate ruling.

Owens’ attorneys did not respond to a request for comment.

In July, Australia also canceled the visa of American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, over fears he promoted Nazi ideologies in his song “Heil Hitler,” released in May. (Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)