RIGHT-WING activist Lauren Southern says the Australian government is putting up an “unprecedented” number of hurdles to prevent her entering the country due to her outspoken criticism of radical Islam.

The 23-year-old Canadian was scheduled to appear in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland alongside commentator Stefan Molyneux in a series of events hosted by Axiomatic Media later this month.

Hours before she was due to fly out, her Electronic Travel Authority was declined. Ms Southern said she applied for a work visa four months ago but “we keep waiting and waiting and waiting and they keep sending us new hurdles to jump through”.

“We’ve been told [by our immigration lawyers] that it’s unprecedented,” she told The Daily Telegraph. “But I’m not surprised they are dragging out the process. There are so many people that are offended by debate and free speech that sometimes governments cower, it’s just way easier to play into the hands of people who are totalitarian.”

Ms Southern said it set a “very scary precedent for free speech” in “nations based on liberal values and the idea of free inquiry”. “I actually think a lot of it right now is Islamic communities,” she said.

“I have criticised radical Islam, I have criticised the increasing blasphemy laws that are being brought into our societies. You won’t see Christians violently attacking people for criticising their religion like you do with Islam, things like the Charlie Hebdo attack.”

Here you go Australia 🇦🇺 Zero criminal record, zero history of incitement to violence, more defamation of her character by the hard left than I have seen on any Conservative speaker all year and still @Lauren_Southern is fighting to come visit #wakeupaustralia https://t.co/bce1kyp71o — lυĸe ιzaaĸ (@lukeizaak) July 8, 2018

This is so dramatic it’s almost comical.



I like how one of their reasons to protest our event is the screening of a documentary on the persecution of whites.



Really shows their true colours. @StefanMolyneux pic.twitter.com/1ASfeYw9fa — Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) July 5, 2018

Ms Southern said she faced similar issues with the New Zealand government. Last week, Auckland mayor Phil Goff banned the pair from all council venues, which he said “shouldn’t be used to stir up ethnic or religious tensions”, leaving the event organisers scrambling.

“New Zealand has been a nightmare,” she said.

“In New Zealand it was the Islamic community that created a petition to get me banned. They don’t think free speech includes the ability to criticise Islam. I’m sorry but that’s exactly what free speech is and someone needs to really teach them what free speech means before they come and immigrate to western nations.”

Ms Southern said it was “scary because the more peaceful person loses out in these kind of battles”. “The government is always going to be far more afraid of the person who is going to commit violence, who will cause trouble for them,” she said.

A spokesman from the Department of Home Affairs said the department was aware of the matter, and that it “wishes to clarify” what was being reported in the media. “The individual concerned applied for an Electronic Travel Authority for which they were ineligible,” he said.

“The individual has a visa application before the Department which remains under consideration. All non-citizens seeking to enter Australia must meet the character requirements set out in the Migration Act 1958 and can be refused a visa if they fail to do so.

“For visitors who may hold controversial views, any risk they may pose will be balanced against Australia’s well established freedom of speech and freedom of beliefs, among other relevant considerations.”

According to the Home Affairs website, an Australian ETA is for “short-term stays for tourism or business visitor activities such as attending a conference, making business inquiries, or for contractual negotiations” and is “not a work visa”.

A Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), which costs between $140 and $1045, entitles the recipient to visit Australia “for business purposes” for up to 12 months. Axiomatic Media is charging $79 for a basic ticket and up to $749 for an “intimate dinner” with the pair.

Axiomatic Media founder Luke Izaak said the pair had applied for work visas that normally take 10 days to process “months ago” but had been “stonewalled and stonewalled with no response”.

“One-and-a-half weeks ago they asked for a criminal record check. Neither of them have criminal records, they got those clean, and still no response,” he said.

“Her immigration lawyer advised them to get a temporary ETA so she and Stefan can at least be getting the lay of the land, having a look at Sydney Harbour Bridge, [go to] Cairns for a crocodile safari, to immerse themselves in the country before they speak about it, and hope the government comes through with the [408 visa].”

Speaking to Sky News, Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi said he suspected “there is a little bit of political interference, or bureaucratic interference, because people sometimes don’t like what she’s got to say”.

In April, controversial Muslim activist and ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied faced a similar issue after she was denied entry to the US for having the wrong visa.

Ms Abdel-Magied was due to speak at a New York conference, but US Customs and Border Protection said she did not have the appropriate visa to receive payment for her speaking engagements.

Ms Southern and Mr Molyneux are well known for their outspoken views on issues such as immigration, Islam and political correctness. Ms Southern is a supporter of the anti-immigrant group Defend Europe, which attempts to block migrant ships coming from North Africa.

Ms Southern, who previously worked for Canadian website Rebel Media, was barred from entering the UK earlier this year for earlier distributing “racist” flyers reading “Allah is a Gay God” and “Allah is trans” outside a restaurant in the English town of Luton.

Her visit has been compared to that of former Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos, whose tour of Australia last year drew violent left-wing protesters who attacked police and supporters of the far-right provocateur.

“They make it appear like we’re going to bring all this mayhem,” Ms Southern told Sky News in May. “I’m certain our ideas will shock people and our arguments will bring a lot of excitement to Australia, but I don’t remember discussing throwing bottles or rioting or setting anything on fire.”

Ms Southern’s visit will also feature screenings of her documentary film Farmlands, which delves into the racially charged issue of South African farm killings.

Earlier this year, Ms Southern backed Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s call for fast-tracked humanitarian visas for white South African farmers. Mr Dutton sparked outrage by saying white farmers faced “horrific circumstances” and needed help from a “civilised country”.

frank.chung@news.com.au