Controversial American political commentator Candace Owens has 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 concerns she could “incite discord” in the community.
Owens, who has built a large online following for her controversial conservative views, applied for a visa to undertake a speaking tour in November 2024.
Her application was rejected in October 2024 by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, citing her record of downplaying the Holocaust and Islamophobic comments. Burke has powers to deny non-citizens entry based on character requirements under the Migration Act.
Owens appealed to the High Court on the grounds that the power burdened the freedom of political communication, an implied right. Unlike the U.S., Australia does not have an express constitutional right to free speech.
The High Court on Wednesday sided with Burke and ordered Owens to pay the government's legal costs.
The court said the Migration Act provisions imposed a burden on political communication but served a legitimate and justifiable purpose in protecting the Australian community from visitors who would "stir up or encourage dissension or strife on political matters".
“The implied freedom is not a ‘personal right’, is not unlimited and is not absolute,” said High Court Judges Stephen Gageler, Michelle Gordon and Robert Beech-Jones in a joint judgment.
The judges noted Burke denied Owens’ visa after examining her views and comments on areas including “Holocaust denial, Islamophobia", anti-racism, Black Lives Matter and antisemitism, women's and LGBTQIA+ rights, and COVID-19 and anti-vaccination”.
Burke found her views to be “extremist and inflammatory comments towards Muslim, Black, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities which generate controversy and hatred”, concluding that meant she failed the “character test” required for a visa and that allowing her into the country would not be in the national interest.
“Ms Owens Farmer's submissions should be emphatically rejected,” said High Court Judge James Edelman in a separate judgment.
Australia has previously also cancelled the visa of U.S. rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, over concerns he promoted Nazi ideologies in his song “Heil Hitler” released in May.
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Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Azerbaijan is evacuating nearly 200 people from the Middle East on a special charter flight departing from Oman.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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