Transgender former soldier Chelsea Manning’s speaking tour at risk over ‘character concerns’
JAILED activist Chelsea Manning — convicted of leaking thousands of documents to Wikileaks — could be banned from Australia after authorities issued an intention to refuse her visa for a particular reason.
NSW
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JAILED activist Chelsea Manning who was convicted of leaking thousands of documents to Wikileaks could be banned from Australia after authorities issued an intention to refuse her visa on character grounds.
The former soldier, who underwent gender reassignment treatment in jail, is due to tour Australia on a speaking tour this month.
But organisers Think Inc put out a call for assistance last night after the Department of Immigration issued a notice to consider refusal on character grounds.
It follows a storm of controversy in New Zealand over whether she should be barred because she remains a convicted felon.
While her sentence was commuted by former US President Barack Obama in one of his last acts in office, she was not pardoned for her crimes.
Manning was acquitted of the most serious charge, that of aiding the enemy, for giving secrets to WikiLeaks but was sentenced to 35 years jail on espionage charges and multiple military charges.
She has three speaking events scheduled in early September in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Organisers Think Inc said they would have more to say about the potential visa ban on Friday.
Promotional material for the visit predicts she causes controversy wherever she goes.
BREAKING : @xychelsea visa to Australia is under a cloud with organisers confirming Australia has issued a notice to consider refusal of visa on character grounds to Chelsea Manning tonight - she’s due to do a speaking tour
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) August 29, 2018
https://t.co/3Yddh9y377
“She’s been out of jail for over a year but still walking into trouble everywhere she goes,” it states.
“In prison Chelsea (a transwoman, born Bradley) began taking medication to assist in her gender transition. Now she uses her celebrity to fight for trans rights.
“And prison didn’t break her brain or change her mind about other political matters. She’s still winding up neo-conservatives by attacking US foreign policy.
“Chelsea will talk to Australia about her life. How to be a sneak, how to survive in prison and how to stop the government and corporations from chipping away at our privacy even more.
“Come along and see if you can spot the ASIO agents pretending to be regular punters in the audience!”
Under the Migration Act the Minister has the power to refuse entry on character grounds.
Rapper Snoop Dogg and Chris Brown Chris were denied a visa on character grounds Brown was banned for his history of domestic violence. In 2009, Brown was convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill then-girlfriend Rihanna.
Holocaust denier David Irving also had his Australian visa cancelled on character grounds multiple times.
It’s understood Manning’s lawyers will fight any visa ban, putting out a call for help for high-profile supporters.