Australia’s High Court Upholds Visa Ban on Candace Owens Alongside Kanye West
Written by b87fm on 10/16/2025
Australia’s High Court has upheld the government’s decision to ban U.S. right-wing commentator Candace Owens from entering the country, citing national interest and concerns over her history of inflammatory remarks.
The ruling, handed down this week, came after three judges unanimously rejected Owens’ legal challenge to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s original visa denial.
Officials pointed to Owens’ controversial statements about Muslims, Jews, vaccines, and the LGBTQ+ community as justification for blocking her entry.
“Inciting discord might be the way some people make money, but it’s not welcome in Australia,” Burke said following the decision. “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.”
Owens had planned a November 2024 speaking tour. Her legal team argued that the trip was protected under the nation’s freedom of political communication rights, but the court dismissed the claim.
This isn’t the first time Australia has barred a controversial figure. In July 2025, officials canceled Kanye West’s visa after he released the song “Heil Hitler.” West, who has publicly praised Nazis, failed the country’s character test.
Owens and West have maintained a close political alliance since 2018, appearing together in “White Lives Matter” shirts at a 2022 fashion show. She has repeatedly defended West despite his antisemitic statements, calling him a “friend” and “cultural lightning rod.”
Under Australia’s Migration Act, the Home Affairs Minister has broad powers to deny entry on character grounds. New Zealand briefly followed Australia’s lead in banning Owens but later reversed its decision.
The High Court also ordered Owens to cover legal costs associated with her failed challenge.
A spokesperson for Owens said she plans to address the ruling publicly this week. The ban prevents her from entering Australia indefinitely unless overturned in the future.
