The Australian government is getting ready to block the visa of US whistle blower, Chelsea Manning. She was due to go Down Under on a speaking tour starting this week.
Manning spent seven years in custody after leaking classified military documents to whistle blower website, WikiLeaks. While in custody, Manning transitioned and was released from jail in 2017.
Her first talk is scheduled at Sydney Opera House on 2 September followed by talks in Melbourne and Brisbane.
But now the government is in the process of considering to refuse her visa.
The government issued Manning a ‘Notice of Intention to Consider Refusal under s501 of the Migration Act’ arguing she failed a ‘character test’.
The government refused to talk about Manning’s cases specifically. But a Home Affairs Department spokesman said non-citizens must meet certain character requirements to get into the country.
‘A person can fail the character test for a number of reasons, including but not limited to where a non-citizen has a substantial criminal record or where their conduct represents a risk to the Australian community,’ the spokesman told the ABC.
The company bringing her to Australia – Think Inc- asked people and national bodies to write to the new Immigration Minister, David Coleman.
‘We are looking for support from relevant national bodies or individuals, especially politicians who can support Chelsea’s entry into Australia,’ Think Inc’s company director, Suzi Jamil, wrote in the letter.
No stranger to controversy
It’s not the first time Manning couldn’t get into a country. Last year Canada turned her away at the border, blaming her prior convictions for denying her entry. Canada her back this year.
Harvard University rescinded an invitation to name Manning a ‘Visiting Fellow’ after public pressure last year.
YouTube also temporarily took down Manning’s campaign video after she revealed in February that she planned run for the Federal Senate.
A few weeks ago, she admitted excitement at coming to Australia because life had ‘been harder’ than she’d ‘imagined’.
life after prison & solitary confinement is harder than i ever imagined, but i’m trying my best 💖 excited to be visiting Australia & New Zealand next month 🌏✈️🌈💕 @theprojecttv pic.twitter.com/35wvFOJJj2
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) August 6, 2018
Read the letter the Australian government sent to Chelsea Manning:
The letter the Australian government sent to Chelsea Manning. | Photo: Twitter
