Overview
- Burke said he blocked dozens of visas on character grounds to protect Australia’s social cohesion and respond to evolving security threats.
- High-profile refusals have targeted figures accused of antisemitism and hate speech, including Kanye West and Candace Owens.
- The minister declared he did not care about criticisms that his actions infringed on free-speech principles.
- Unnamed government sources confirm that many additional visa applications were quietly rejected without public notice.
- Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay and MP Tim Wilson have demanded clear, consistently applied guidelines to limit unchecked ministerial authority.