THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Australia will allow Dutch far-Right MP Geert Wilders to visit for a speaking tour because banning his entry – even though he is an "ignorant" and "wrong-headed" provocateur – would make him a hero.
Mr Wilders' application to attend on a speaking tour organised by an anti-Islamic group has been under review after immigration authorities deemed him a person of concern.
The Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, said he spent a long time considering whether to allow Mr Wilders' application but eventually concluded that Australia's democracy could withstand his visit.
"I am not going to give him that opportunity to be the cause célèbre for his cause which is radical and extremist," Mr Bowen told ABC Radio.
"I think our society is robust enough, our multiculturalism is strong enough, and our love of freedom of speech entrenched enough that we can withstand a visit from this fringe commentator from the other side of the world." » | Jonathan Pearlman in Sydney | Tuesday, October 02, 2012
