Milo Yiannopoulos set to be banned from Australia

Far right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos is set to be banned from Australia with Pauline Hanson demanding the government intervene.

Far-right provocateur Milo Yian­nopoulos is set to be banned from entering Australia on character grounds in a move that will deny him the opportunity to grab headlines ahead of the upcoming federal election.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accused the government of banning Mr Yiannopoulos for votes, and wants Immigration Minister David Coleman to reverse his department’s decision.

Mr Yiannopoulos, who came to fame as a leading figure of the alt-right movement during the 2016 US presidential election, has been informed by the Department of Home Affairs that it intends to refuse him a visa.

Senator Pauline Hanson. Picture: Kym Smith

The Department of Home Affairs said Mr Yiannopoulos would have 28 days to put his case. “Any application lodged with the department by visitors who may hold controversial views will be considered, balancing any risk they may pose with Australia’s well-established freedom of speech and freedom of beliefs,” he said.

The department has recently denied visas to controversial figures including conspiracy theorist David Icke.

Senator Hanson told The Australian she spoke to Mr Coleman this week, learning that the controversial alt-right figure was set to be denied entry.

“They have now sent him some questions, and how he answers those questions will determine how it goes,” she said.

“I am angry. I can’t see what Milo has done to be banned from Australia. The Left are pushing this. It’s all about the election, it’s all about votes.”

Spineless Morrison Government made a big mistake banning Milo Yiannopoulos. They just validated the left's violent tactics & acted like an arm of Antifa! This will lead to more violence! Next time a left wing thug punches a conservative at a free speech rally thank Morrison! -PH

— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) March 6, 2019

Mr Yiannopoulos has been a diminishing figure in the global alt-right movement for some years now.

He visited Australia, including Parliament House, in 2017, with his events in Sydney and Melbourne prompting violent clashes between far-right and far-left activists.

Victoria Police later charged Mr Yiannopoulos for the security costs at his event.

Last June, PayPal suspended his account for sending a Jewish journalist $14.88, with “14” a white supremacist code for “protecting white children” and “88” being code for “Heil Hitler”.

He also made headlines for sending violent messages to reporters. It was also revealed late last year that he was more than $2 million in debt, and owed money to Queensland events management group AE Media, who were organising a now-­cancelled tour with US right-wing commentator Anne Coulter.

AE Media was approached for comment yesterday.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich, a campaigner against anti-Semitism, welcomed the potential ban on Mr Yianno­poulos.

“The Morrison government, once again, has taken the high moral road of saying no to hate speech and extremism, and has protected the most vulnerable in our society from incitement and vilification,” he said.