Just a few days after right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos had his visa application rejected by the Australian government, Immigration Minister David Coleman will reportedly step in to reverse the decision.
[jwplayer kZ5HzvmD]
According to The Australian, Coleman was not convinced by a letter from the Department of Home Affairs which listed a number of reasons – including Yiannopoulos’ $50,000 debt to Victoria Police – to deny him a visa.
The reverse comes as prominent right-wing voices, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, denounced the government’s decision to ban the provocateur from entering the country for a series of shows.
Spineless Morrison Government made a big mistake banning Milo Yiannopoulos. They just validated the left’s violent tactics & acted like an arm of Antifa! This will lead to more violence! Next time a left wing thug punches a conservative at a free speech rally thank Morrison! -PH
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) March 6, 2019
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Coleman will “personally approve” the visa.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared to distance himself from the issue.
“There’s a process that is followed in relation to character issues in regards to people who wish to come to Australia and the minister [Coleman] has been following that normal process. There has been decisions taken to date by the department and it is open to the minister to play a role in that process where he believes it is necessary to do so.”
“[The minister] will make a decision on this issue shortly,” Morrison said.
The Immigration Minister could intervene in the case of British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos to allow him into the country.@ScottMorrisonMP: Free speech is important in Australia, but people have to be responsible for what they say.
MORE: https://t.co/LcmWZ9pHTw #WeekendLive pic.twitter.com/QNSSz28lFq
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 9, 2019
Federal MP Tim Wilson told The Australian he had personally talked to Coleman about the initial visa ban.
“Milo is a boring, unimaginative, self-absorbed attention-seeker of questionable character,” he said. “But free speech is for everyone, hence I was surprised by the news and have raised it with the minister.”
