• Candace Owens loses legal battle to enter Australia after visa denial.
• The High Court upheld the government's decision citing a threat to community harmony.
• Owens’ controversial comments on social issues were significant in the ruling.
• The case reflects Australia's strict immigration policies regarding character tests.
• Similar incidents occurred with other public figures, including rapper Ye.

U.S. conservative commentator Candace Owens has lost her legal bid to enter Australia, as the country's High Court supported the government's decision to deny her a visa. The court ruled that her presence could “incite discord” within the Australian community, a decision led by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who previously rejected Owens' application based on her controversial comments and views, which he deemed as "extremist and inflammatory" towards specific communities, including Muslim and LGBTQIA+ groups, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The court's decision came after a unanimous ruling indicating that the refusal of Owens' visa was justified under the Migration Act, which allows for such actions if there is a risk of someone stirring up strife within the community. The judges noted that Owens had publicly downplayed the Holocaust and made other controversial remarks that contributed to her failing the required “character test,” as outlined by Burke in his arguments to the court, according to Al Jazeera.

Burke stated that granting Owens a visa would not align with Australia's national interest, as her significant social media following could amplify her capacity to incite discord. The High Court judges emphasized that the implied freedom of political communication in Australia is limited and does not guarantee unrestricted free speech, thus supporting the government's stance, as detailed in their joint judgment. "The implied freedom is not a ‘personal right’, is not unlimited and is not absolute," they noted, which emphasizes the stringent standards applied to foreign influencers, as reported by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

This ruling aligns with Australia’s broader immigration policies, which have seen similar outcomes recently; most notably, U.S. rapper Ye, known for promoting Nazi ideologies, was also denied a visa. According to Burke, letting people who may incite discord enter the country contradicts the values of social cohesion that Australia upholds. "Inciting discord might be the way some people make money, but it’s not welcome in Australia," he affirmed, illustrating the government's commitment to preventing potential social unrest, as stated in reports Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.