Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I understand there have been media reports that Dr Abdel Bari Atwan has been refused a visa, but that is not the case. For any application for a visa to enter Australia, there are security requirements, including character checks and national security clearances. All people who seek to enter Australia must meet these requirements, and Dr Atwan is no different. These processes can take some time, obviously, if checks have to be made—that is something that you do not do in a day or two; it can take some time—and Dr Atwan’s application is currently being assessed on that basis.