US conservative influencer denied entry into Australia

ISTANBUL

US conservative influencer Candace Owens was denied entry into Australia on Wednesday when a court rejected her challenge to a visa denial last year.

Her lawyers argued that the visa rejection "unjustifiably burdens” the implied freedom of political communication.

The Australian High Court said in its judgment that the implied freedom of political communication restricts "legislative and executive power to restrict freedom of communication on governmental or political matters," if it is not imposed to "fulfil a constitutionally legitimate purpose and the restriction is reasonably appropriate and adapted to advance that purpose by constitutionally legitimate means."

"The implied freedom of political communication is not a personal right," it said.

Owens' visa was originally refused by Immigration Minister Tony Burke last October, who warned that she could "incite discord in the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community."

Burke found it was in the national interest to refuse Owens a visa, it said.

In reaching that state of satisfaction, Burke said Owens had a history of making "extremist and inflammatory comments" toward Muslims, Blacks and Jews, among others and that there was a risk that her "controversial views [would] amplify grievances among communities and lead to increased hostility and violent or radical action" if she were allowed into Australia to express those views.

Owens was planning a speaking tour in the Pacific nation.