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Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says Australia should welcome Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders to Australia because he could be the Netherlands' next prime minister.
Mr Wilders, who heads the right-wing political party The Party for Freedom and is a prominent critic of Islam, announced on Twitter that his Australian visa had been granted after what his supporters had said was a delay in processing his application.
The controversial figure will come to Australia to launch a new political party called the Australian Liberty Alliance, which advocates against what it describes as the "Islamisation of Australia".
"Look forward visiting [sic] Perth for launch new party: Australian Liberty Alliance!" Mr Wilders tweeted.
Australian visa has been granted! Look forward visiting Perth for launch new party: Australian Liberty Alliance! pic.twitter.com/O5IHNeUIj5— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv)
October 8, 2015
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he was consulted by the Immigration Department about granting the visa to Mr Wilders, but was "happy to take the advice" from the department's delegate.
"If people want to contest that, they are free to do that through the court process," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration confirmed the visa was issued on Thursday. "Mr Wilders' visa was approved yesterday, Thursday, 8 October 2015 and he has been advised of the outcome," the spokeswoman said.
Debbie Robinson from the Australian Liberty Alliance said she was relieved Mr Wilders' visa had been granted, after it was issued only at the last minute in 2012, which was too late.
"I was worried that that was happening because the same thing was happening in 2012, " Ms Robinson said on Friday.
"[In 2012 we had two events scheduled and the visa was issued at the last-minute.
"So we're very happy it's been granted because so many people want to hear what he has to say." Mr Wilders will launch the party in Perth on October 20.
The party had also feared Mr Wilders might be blocked from visiting Australia after visas were denied to US rapper Chris Brown because of his domestic violence record and the anti-abortion campaigner Troy Newman.
Mr Newman attempted to travel to Australia anyway but was deported back to the United States.
Liberal senator Cory Bernardi on Friday said Mr Newman should not have been denied a visa.
"These were three entirely different circumstances," Senator Bernardi said.
"First you had a convicted criminal [in Chris Brown] and it was entirely within the remit of the minister to reject his visa on character grounds.
"But I did find it extraordinary that a pro-life campaigner was denied a visa simply because people didn't like his views."
The conservative South Australian senator said he had no issue with deporting someone for failing to have the correct visa to enter the country.
Senator Bernardi has been a long-time supporter of Mr Wilders and said Australia should have no issue with welcoming the prominent Dutch politician.
"He is the leader of the most popular party in one of our sovereign allies,," Senator Bernardi said.
"I cannot understand why there would be any delay in processing a visa for Geert Wilders particularly when he's proved so prescient in many of the issues he's raised and there's a strong likelihood he'll end up being prime minister of the Netherlands in the future."
