AFP/Sydney
Controversial American anti-abortion activist Troy Newman will be deported after losing a legal bid to stay in Australia yesterday, following the immigration minister’s decision to revoke his visa.
Opposition politicians and campaigners had appealed for Newman to be blocked from entering the country for a speaking tour, arguing that his opinions — which allegedly include calling for doctors who perform abortions to be executed — were extreme and dangerous.
It is Australia’s second high-profile visa case in as many weeks after US R&B singer Chris Brown was notified last week that he could be blocked from touring Australia for his domestic violence conviction.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton cancelled Newman’s visa on Tuesday but the American still flew to Australia, arriving Thursday in Melbourne where he was detained. His bid to stop deportation was denied by the High Court in Melbourne.
Justice Geoffrey Nettle told the hearing he was rejecting Newman’s appeal to stay, adding that he did “not come to this court with clean hands” as he had boarded the flight without a visa, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. Nettle’s decision means he could be deported soon, media reports said.
A court official said a second application to overturn the visa cancellation could still be heard at a later unspecified date.
Newman, the president of Kansas-based Operation Rescue, a pro-life Christian organisation, was due to speak at several events across the country hosted by Right to Life Australia.
