BNP leader likely to be denied Australian visa

17/11/2008 by Simon Wallace

Nick Griffin, leader of the extreme-right British National Party could fail his application for an Australian visa.

Mr. Griffin has been put on a Movement Alert List because of his previous convictions relating to the incitement of racial hatred.

Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) assess all Australian visa applications before a decision is taken.

Mr. Griffin wants to visit Australia to discuss "the demographic genocide ... caused by large-scale immigration of people from the Third World", but a report in The Age says the DIAC are worried such a visit might inspire more "Cronulla-style" racial tension. The reference relates to the race riots involving 5000 people which took place on the beachfront suburb of Cronulla in 2005.

Matthew Collins, a former member of the British National Party (BNP) said Mr Griffin should not be granted an Australian visa: "Nick Griffin is as dangerous to the community as any radical Islamic preacher," he said.

Australia's government rejected another Australian visa request from Mr. Griffin in 1998. DIAC refused to comment on the likely outcome Mr. Griffin's latest visa application, but a spokesperson confirmed the department would thoroughly review it.

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