Lauren Southern has become the second controversial alt-right commentator to be slapped with a hefty police bill ahead of her controversial show in Melbourne.
Organisers of the Canadian’s speaking tour are reportedly being charged almost $68,000 for a large police presence at the event, which authorities fear could draw violent protesters.
Far right Canadian Youtuber Lauren Southern has landed in Australia after reportedly experiencing delays in getting a visa.Credit: Youtube
While Victoria Police confirmed it had a right to charge any event organiser for the use of police resources, it refused to comment on the cost of the bill.
After initially being denied a short-term visa, Southern landed in Australia late last week for her national tour, wearing a shirt emblazoned with "It's okay to be white".
She and right-wing Canadian podcaster and YouTuber Stefan Molyneux, who will be appearing at events together from next week, were granted temporary activity visas subclass 408 earlier this week.
Southern, who has spoken against immigration, feminism and Islam, was denied entry to the UK in March on the grounds that her "presence in the UK was not conducive to the public good".
She's due to host a show at a yet to be disclosed venue in Melbourne on Friday night.
Milo Yiannopoulos
It comes days after it emerged that organisers of alt-right mouthpiece Milo Yiannopoulos' Melbourne event have so far refused to cough up the $50,000 bill for extra police resources used after violent protests broke out at his show last year.
Hundreds of left and right-wing protesters clashed outside the Melbourne Pavilion in Kensington in December at the Yiannopoulos event.
Riot police stormed the protest and used pepper spray to subdue the crowd, which included members of left-wing group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and right-wing groups Reclaim Australia and The Freedom Party.
Up to 300 police were called in to separate the protesters when fights broke outside Yiannopoulos' show.
But Police Minister Lisa Neville revealed on 3AW on Monday that Yiannopoulos and the organisers behind his 'Troll Academy' tour, are yet to foot the bill, more than six months after they were ordered to do so by police.
And police are taking legal action.
Ms Neville added it was common practice for organisers of large-scale or controversial events to be billed if large numbers of police resources were required.
"I remember at the time people said 'why are we charging for protests because he's got a different view?'" Ms Neville said.
"That is not the case. Any commercial activity, we ask for a contribution from those commercial providers where police are required."
When asked if she was concerned similar violent protests would erupt at Southern's show, Ms Neville warned police would be out in full force.
"These events absolutely can get volatile and they have, we've experienced that," Ms Neville said.
"Police are always well prepared, they've got the equipment... they've got the powers they need to do this and they will not sit by and let people cause public harm to each other or other innocent people in the community."