The Australian government has once again rejected an application by British Holocaust-denier David Irving to visit Australia, on grounds that the writer is not of “good character.”
Sen. Nick Bolkus, Australia’s minister for immigration and ethnic affairs, told the Senate that Irving has not reformed following his deportation from Canada in November 1992 and exclusion from Germany in 1993.
Last September, Bolkus was instructed by the federal court to reconsider the application for a visitor’s visa made by Irving in December 1992, after the court found that the original exclusion order did not fully comply with Australian immigration law.
“The regulations enable a range of conduct to be taken into account when assessing a person’s character, such as a person’s past conduct,” Bolkus said.
Since the government refused Irving’s first visa application, Australia’s immigration laws have changed. But Bolkus’ decision was based on the pre-existing regulations.
Bolkus also informed the Senate that he had rejected a second application made by Irving on June 3, 1993, based on current legislation, also due to the “character” assessment.
Civil liberties organizations have objected to the decision and vowed to campaign to have it overturned. However, the only immediate opposition came from the tiny Australian Civil Liberties Union, led by Holocaust-denier John Bennett, which has no affiliation to recognized groups.
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