"I can confirm that a Notice of Intention to Consider Refusal has been issued," Mr Dutton said. Chris Brown has been issued with a notice of intent to refuse him a visa. Credit:Getty images Brown can either challenge the notice or withdraw his application to visit Australia, currently scheduled for December. Australian officials issued the R&B singer with a notice of their intention to refuse his visa application on Friday night, according to reports. The controversial singer was convicted in 2009 of assaulting and threatening to kill Rihanna. He was sentenced to five years probation.

The Migration Act states that anyone with a "substantial criminal record" involving a prison sentence of 12 months or more - including a suspended sentence - can be refused a visa. Activist group GetUp praised the government's decision to deny Brown entry after they mounted a substantial campaign against the singer being allowed into the country. GetUp! campaigner Sally Rugg said the campaign wasn't just about Brown, but the "horrifying" number of men who have been convicted of violence against women but still retain high profile careers in the entertainment industry. "This announcement sends a strong signal to Australians that the Federal Government are willing to show strong leadership on gendered violence and that they are prepared to condemn violence against women," she said. Brown has 28 days to present his case for being allowed to enter Australia.

"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," Mr Dutton said. Brown has shows booked in Australia in December for his One Hell of a Nite tour. Ticketek have confirmed that tickets will still go on sale on Monday at noon as planned despite the visa refusal. On Thursday Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was reviewing whether it would be appropriate to issue Brown a visa. "I'm clearly not going to pre-empt a decision by the minister however I can assure you what my recommendation would be," said Senator Cash. "People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world there are going to be countries that say to you 'You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia'."

"This is a government that's not afraid to say 'no'." The minister also announced $100 million funding to combat and prevent domestic violence. In her former role as assistant immigration minister, Senator Cash was involved in denying boxer Floyd Mayweather entry to Australia because of his history of family violence. with Nicky Phillips