Call for Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to block a transphobe on character grounds [Note: Content Warning - transphobia, right wing extremism]

PS - subsequently I have sent a follow up as follows: 

Dear Member for <electorate>,

Further to my submission to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs , I wish to draw your attention to the following act of depravity at a conservative political event in the USA:

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cpac-trans-kids-eradicated-transgender-michael-knowles_n_64038d23e4b0c78bb7430b1c

This is who the transphobe from the UK is aligned with.

Although I haven't heard back from Genocide Watch, I consider allowing this person into Australia to be akin to allowing a senior official of Germany's leadership in the 1930s into Australia - it goes beyond inappropriate to enabling evil, which is why I am so firm that it must not happen. 

 

This is an extract from a Contact Form submission to the (Australian) Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, made in response to this petition, which I have relied on for information about the person concerned, but see also this. 

For this extract I've taken out the name, as the principles can be used in response to other such situations in future. 

This copy is from a Word document that was typed using Atkinson Hyperlegible, which looked better before two copy-pastes. 

Dear Minister,

I was gravely concerned to learn that _, also known as _, wishes to "tour" Australia in March, 2023. This person has a history of organising rallies attended by white supremacists / neo-Nazis, and is a notorious transphobe. As such, I consider she does not meet the character test requirements for a visa - specifically, from https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/2-when-can-visa-be-refused-or-cancelled-under-section-501:

2.3 The character test

(f) Significant risk of particular types of future conduct

-       harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person

-       vilify a segment of the Australian community

-       incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of the community or

-       represent a danger to the Australian community or to a segment of the community, whether by way of being liable to become involved in activities that are disruptive to, or in violence threatening harm to, that community or segment, or in any other way.

Commentary:

White supremacists/neo-Nazis are increasingly active and increasingly violent, as reported in several recent media articles - to the extent that several states have taken action such as banning symbols and studying the problem of far right extremism. In addition, I note that (according to https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/chart-australian-treaty-ratifications-may-2012-human-rights-your) Australia ratified the International Covenant on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1965 on 30^th September 1975.

 

2.4 Stage 2: Factors relevant to the exercise of discretion to refuse or cancel a visa

(b) Primary considerations

Direction No. 55 provides that in deciding whether to refuse or cancel a person’s visa under section 501, the following primary considerations must be taken into account:

-       the best interests of minor children in Australia

Commentary:

Transphobes such as this person are directly attacking trans and gender diverse (TGD) Australians through their hate speech (noting https://www.un.org/en/hate-speech/understanding-hate-speech/what-is-hate-speech). This can have, in particular, a chilling effect on the provision of well-proven medical treatment for TGD children. Some links which provide information, written by academics, on that topic are:

-       https://theconversation.com/transgender-kids-get-their-own-health-care-guidelines-98308;

-       https://theconversation.com/transgender-and-gender-diverse-teens-how-to-talk-to-and-support-them-170992;

-       https://theconversation.com/im-a-pediatrician-who-cares-for-transgender-kids-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-social-support-puberty-blockers-and-other-medical-options-that-improve-lives-of-transgender-youth-157285; and

-       https://theconversation.com/au/topics/transgender-children-30302.

 

I respectfully urge you to cancel/deny any visa for _ to enter Australia on the basis she fails the character requirements.

 

PS The links to international conventions are from my weekly news posts (see, for instance, here) and my glossary. Other links were found by searching the government department website.