By Kishor Napier-Raman and Liam Mannix
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke took the only sensible option last year when he denied a visa to American conspiracy theorist and far-right agitator Candace Owens.
The government concluded that Owens’ views, which include plenty of ugly antisemitic tropes about how Israel is a “cult” and that “secret Jewish gangs” have infiltrated Hollywood, would undermine social cohesion.
YouTuber Candace Owens is arguing that Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s visa refusal violated the Constitution.Credit: Bloomberg
But Owens vowed to fight her ban, and could get a helping hand from the High Court, which is set to hear her appeal next month.
Owens’ legal team, led by silk Perry Herzfeld, SC, is arguing the section of the Migration Act which empowers the minister to refuse a visa to a person who would incite discord in the community violates the Constitution’s implied freedom of political communication.
In March, Justice Jayne Jagot referred Owens’ case to be heard by a full bench of the court.
Rocksman, the promoter behind Owens’ tour, told CBD they were “delighted” the courts were hearing the case.
Last year, a New Zealand immigration official overturned a visa ban against Owens, citing the importance of “free speech”. Talk about the post-Trump vibe shift reaching even the Kiwis.
Owens’ tour website is currently listing dates in January 2026 for a series of appearances in Australia and New Zealand. Who knows what state the world will be in by then.
Debate me!
For a while now the Liberals have been terrified about their prospects in the leafy north shore electorate of Bradfield, vacated by retiring frontbencher Paul Fletcher.
Teal independent Nicolette Boele, who came close to winning in 2022 and has spent the last three years calling herself the seat’s “shadow member”, is taking on star Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian in the crucial fight.
“Exploring future opportunities”: The ABC tried, and failed, to line up a debate between Bradfield candidates Gisele Kapterian (left) and Nicolette Boele.
Both candidates have been under a little pressure of late. Last week, Boele was forced to apologise for making a sexual joke toward a teenage hairdresser. This masthead recently revealed that Kapterian, meanwhile, was named in a $650,000 settlement reached between former staffer Rachelle Miller and the Commonwealth over discrimination and harassment claims.
The two had a chance to put all that behind them with a debate on ABC’s 7.30 floated for Tuesday night. But earlier that day, Boele’s camp came out swinging, accusing her rival of pulling out.
“I was looking forward to a debate with my Liberal opponent on the ABC’s 7.30 tonight but she has unfortunately declined the invitation,” she told CBD.
“Our community wants a local representative who listens to them and is accountable to them. I am available to take up the ABC’s offer any time between now and the election.”
But sources close to the Kapterian camp told us the call from Aunty had come far too late on Monday for the candidate to organise her schedule around the planned debate. Attempts to find a new date were unsuccessful.
An ABC spokesperson had the definitive account: “We approached both candidates on Monday afternoon and tried to make it happen for Tuesday. We are exploring future opportunities.”
Finger-pointing aside, it’s a shame the clash isn’t happening. It would’ve been a great opportunity for Boele and Kapterian to out-rate the first actual leaders debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on rarely watched Sky News.
From Russia with love
They say it’s not what’s under the Christmas tree but who is around it that really matters. We’re sure that’s the spirit in which former PM Scott Morrison received a Christmas card from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“These wonderful holidays loved by everyone are intertwined with good family traditions, with a unique feeling of warmth and cosiness of home, with sincere belief in the fulfilment of cherished desires,” Russia’s president for life wrote to ScoMo on December 31, 2021.
On each other’s Christmas card list? Russian President Vladimir Putin and former prime minister Scott Morrison.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Indeed, Vlad was about to have one of his most-cherished desires fulfilled – only couple of months later the Russian army invaded Ukraine.
The Christmas card, along with one presumably from US President Donald Trump (details redacted), were released by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet after a freedom of information request.
No hint, from the documents, whether ScoMo ever wrote back.
Nine lives
Hugh Marks, former chief executive of CBD’s corporate overlords the Nine Entertainment Company, is a few weeks in his new gig as managing director of the ABC (a role you heard about in this column first).
And already, it looks like Hugh is making his Mark at Aunty, getting some of the old Nine gang back together. With his first major hire, he’s poached Nine’s executive counsel Kiah Officer to come onboard as the ABC’s general counsel. She replaces Ingrid Silver, who left the role late last year right after Marks’ predecessor, David Anderson, announced his own departure.
With a few vacant roles at the public broadcaster, there’s plenty more scope for Marks to bring in some Nine folk. Vic Buchan, former communications chief at Nine, was made redundant last year after a turbulent few months at the media company. And the ABC is short a top spinner after head of communications Nick Leys left to work for the lord mayor of Melbourne, another transfer broken by this column.
We’ll keep you abreast of any more movements at the station.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.