Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Earlier this year the government banned right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos from entering Australia. Mr Yiannopoulos has described young Muslims as 'rapefugees' and Islam as 'barbaric' and 'alien'. Can the minister explain why the government banned Milo Yiannopoulos from entering Australia?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These were judgements that were appropriately made, consistent with the provisions in the Migration Act, as I indicated to the chamber yesterday. The Australian government is committed to protecting the community from criminal or other serious harm by noncitizens. All noncitizens who apply for entry into Australia must meet the character test set out in the Migration Act.

A noncitizen can fail the character test for a number of reasons, including where they have a substantial criminal record or where their conduct causes a risk to the Australian community. For visitors who may hold controversial views, as I said yesterday, any risk they may pose will be balanced against Australia's well-established commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of beliefs, amongst other relevant considerations. These are judgements that are made on a case-by-case basis. While we never comment on individual cases, obviously the case that Senator Keneally refers to was approached in the appropriate way, consistent with our laws, and as will all cases be into the future.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Raheem Kassam has campaigned against Muslim migration, described Islam as a fascistic and totalitarian ideology and said the Koran was 'fundamentally evil', yet the government is refusing to ban Mr Kassam from entering Australia. Can the minister please explain the difference between Mr Raheem Kassam and Mr Milo Yiannopoulos?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated yesterday, I fundamentally disagree with some of the views that he has expressed and that you have now related to the chamber. In fact, I object to those views. But I would also make the general point to just further what I've indicated in the primary answer—and I've written this in the letter to the Senate President earlier today too—that the government fundamentally believes in and supports the principles of freedom of thought, speech, expression and association. It is those freedoms which underpin a strong and healthy democracy.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is one of direct relevance. The question was clear: I asked the minister to explain the difference between Mr Kassam and Mr Yiannopoulos.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm trying to listen to the minister's answer. I think he's being directly relevant by virtue of the way he is answering the question and highlighting this particular piece of correspondence.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously, everyone who comes to Australia has to comply with Australian laws.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Everyone who comes to Australia must comply with Australian laws. I think that Senator Wong is well aware that we do have laws that appropriately deal with hate speech, vilification and the like. Those laws appropriately deal with those matters. I would say again that the government will always stand against— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given Mr Kassam's comments and their similarity to Mr Yiannopoulos's comments, will the Prime Minister now instruct the Minister for Immigration to review Mr Kassam's visa?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated to the chamber yesterday, it would be entirely inappropriate for us to detail individual cases and the consideration of individual cases under the Migration Act in the way that Senator Keneally has invited me to do. If Senator Keneally understood the Migration Act and how that is appropriately administered, she would not have asked me that question.