in brief: australia rejects chris brown’s visa application on character grounds

Image via Eva Rinaldi

Domestic violence offenders entering Australia may have their visas rejected, following Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s new plan to crack down on perpetrators entering the country in the backlash of the Chris Brown controversy.

The plans come after Chris Brown’s visa application was formally denied by Dutton on ‘character grounds’, following the singer’s assault conviction in 2009 for the attack on his then girlfriend, Rihanna.

Chris Brown has been presented with a ‘Notice of Intention to Consider Refusal’ by the Australian government, which allows him 28 days to appeal the refusal. Mr Dutton said, ‘Decisions on whether a visa will or will not be issued are made after that timeframe and consideration of the material presented to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.’

Thankfully, the government isn’t simply employing Chris Brown’s case as a one-off example to domestic violence perpetrators, with the Federal Government devising strategies to stop offenders entering the country. Dutton’s spokesperson has said, ‘Every visa application is treated on its merits, but with the announcements made last week the government has made clear it has firm views on domestic violence.’

The Chris Brown visa controversy has come after the Turnbull government recently announced its $100 million funding package to help tackle domestic violence in Australia, with Turnbull declaring violence against women as ‘one of the great shames of Australia’.

Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash, has applauded the decision to reject Brown’s visa, saying, ‘This is a government that is not afraid to say no. We are not afraid to say no to those wanting Visas who commit domestic violence.’