Why controversial YouTube star Lauren Southern was banned from coming to Australia

CONTROVERSIAL YouTube star Lauren Southern says Australia has placed an “unprecedented” number of hurdles to stop her entering the country.

YOUTUBE star Lauren Southern Australian tour will go ahead later this month after the government finally approved her visa.

“Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux were advised in writing this morning by their Australian immigration lawyers and migration agents that their applications for working visas subclass 408 have been formally approved,” Axiomatic Media founder Luke Izaak said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This has followed an unusually prolonged application process, due to which, as the dates of travel rapidly approached, the lawyers advised it would be advisable to apply to travel on an Electronic Travel Authority.

“This was done with the understanding that no paid work would be undertaken in Australia until the expected approvals for the working visas were obtained. Neither Lauren nor Stefan attempted to travel without visas in hand.

“Such is their respect for immigration law that international and domestic flights were actually cancelled and rescheduled.”

Earlier this week it appeared she wouldn’t be granted access after there was an “unprecedented” number of hurdles to stop her entering the country.

Canadian commentator Southern, 23, told Miranda Live this afternoon that her public stance against radical Islam had contributed to delays to her working Visa.

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“We keep waiting and waiting and waiting and they keep sending us new hurdles to jump through,” she told Miranda Live.

Controversial far-right activist banned Lauren Southern is having trouble getting into the country. Picture: @laurencheriie

“We are still hoping for Australia and we are hoping our immigration lawyers will push through.

“I am not surprised they are dragging out the process because there are so many people who get offended by free speech and free debate that sometimes governments cower and think it is easy to play into the hands of people who are totalitarian.

“We are still hoping for Australia”, says Lauren Southern. Picture: @laurencheriie

“We are not illegals and we are not trying to go there and change the culture for the worse … We want to bring some excitement and debate.

“It sets a scary precedent for free speech (in Australia).”

Southern had planned a speaking tour in Australia with fellow right wing speaker Stefan Molyneux but the trip was delayed after she was denied an Australian Electronic Travel Authority hours before her visit.

Lauren Southern hopes her immigration lawyers will “push through”. Picture: @laurencheriie

She has since applied for the correct visa but it is still being assessed by Peter Dutton’s Department of Home Affairs.

The department released a statement saying it took into consideration “controversial” views of commentators attempting to enter Australia.

Social media post showing that Lauren Southern has been rejected from entering Australia.

“All non-citizens seeking to enter Australia must meet the character requirements set out in the Migration Act 1958 and can be refused a visa if they fail to do so,” a home affairs spokesman said.

“For visitors who may hold controversial views, any risk they may pose will be balanced against Australia’s well-established freedom of speech and freedom of beliefs, among other relevant considerations.

“The individual has a visa application before the Department which remains under consideration.”

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