Looks Like The Government Might Not Let Chris Brown Into The Country

Minister Michaelia Cash made the comments during an announcement about domestic violence.

The Australian government has responded to the growing movement to block singer Chris Brown from entering the country. There's been a GetUp petition and over the weekend, stickers saying "I beat women" started appearing on his tour posters.

Stephanie McCarthy @tallpunksteph

Whoever is doing this to the Chris Brown posters in Melbourne is a champion! Nice work!

01:12 PM - 22 Sep 2015

Following an announcement of a $100 million package to tackle domestic violence, minister for women Michaelia Cash was asked if the government would allow Chris Brown to visit Australia, after he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.

Julian Smith / AAPIMAGE

Cash responded that the immigration minister Peter Dutton would be reviewing the case, pointing out that in her previous position as assistant immigration minister, she had blocked boxer Floyd Mayweather from coming to Australia because of his domestic violence record.

"I can assure you that the minister for immigration and border protection will be looking at this very, very seriously," she said. "I am clearly not going to pre-empt a decision by the minister, however, I can assure you what my strong recommendation would be."

"People need to understand if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you 'You cannot come in because you are not of the character we expect in Australia' and certainly, without pre-empting the decision of the minister, I can assure you it is something that the minister is looking at."

Under the Migration Act, the immigration minister can use their discretion to refuse or cancel a visa on character grounds, if someone has a substantial criminal record.

In 2009, Brown was sentenced to five years probation for beating up and strangling his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

AP

Since then, the singer has been denied entry into the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

Previously, his tour promoter told the Herald Sun that there would be no problems with Brown coming into Australia, as he has been allowed to tour the country in 2011 and 2012.

Chris Brown's 'One Hell of a Nite' tour is scheduled to start in Perth in December, and go on to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.