Sacrificial Virgins filmmaker Joan Shenton denied access to Australia ahead of Melbourne screening

THE woman behind a controversial anti-vaccination film to be screened at a secret Melbourne location next week has been refused entry to Australia.

THE woman behind a controversial anti-vaccination film to be screened at a secret Melbourne location next week has been refused entry to Australia.

British filmmaker Joan Shenton was due to arrive in the country this week for the tour of Sacrificial Virgins, which questions the scientific evidence behind the human papilloma virus causing cervical cancer.

But Australian Vaccination-risks Network, who has organised the screenings, confirmed in a statement Ms Shenton had last week been told by a Department of Home Affairs representative her visa application was now being “manually assessed”, and the deadline for her flight to Australia had since passed.

British filmmaker Joan Shenton has been denied entry to Australia. Picture: London Live/YouTube

UNVACCINATED KIDS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SCHOOL

The network’s president, Tasha David, slammed the decision to block Ms Shenton.

“It is an affront to Australian families if our government is refusing Joan Shenton a visa just because her film challenges government policy with some inconvenient scientific facts,” she said.

“It also achieves nothing other than a childish stamp of the foot.”

Ms David said the screenings would go ahead as planned, with Ms Shenton appearing live by video link.

But the man behind the celebrated cervical Gardasil cancer vaccine, Professor Ian Frazer, described the film as “fake news”.

The prominent Queensland scientist and 2006 Australian of the Year told the Leader there was no evidence to support the belief HPV vaccines caused harm.

“Spreading fake news about vaccines can only lead to anxiety in parents and the community, and possibly loss of lives if young boys and girls are not vaccinated as a consequence,” he said.

Gardasil is administered free in Australia to boys and girls aged 10 and over as part of the National Immunisation Program.

Professor Ian Frazer has dubbed the movie Sacrificial Virgins as “fake news”. Picture: Anthony Weate

The location of the Melbourne screening on August 7 is still top secret, but the Leader understands the venue is about 10 minutes south of the Melbourne CBD.

Ticketholders will be notified of the venue two hours before the movie starts.

It is one of seven screenings across Australia.

Promoters of Sacrificial Virgins say it investigates the controversies surrounding the HPV vaccination program and claims Gardasil is linked to widespread severe neurological damage that can lead to long-term disabilities, paralysis and even death.

Ms David said the 30-minute film aimed to get the vaccination program suspended “until independent, ethically-conducted research shows that the benefits (of Gardasil) truly outweigh the risks and the victims acknowledged and compensated for the harm caused to them”.