Australian authorities have canceled far-right British commentator; Katie Hopkins’s visa and will deport her after she reportedly boasted about flouting the country’s strict hotel quarantine rules, according to a senior official.
Hopkins who may no longer be able to travel to Australia had flown into Sydney to appear on a reality television show when she posted a video on Instagram talking about answering the door naked and maskless to workers delivering meals to her hotel room.
According to Aljazeera, international arrivals to Australia are required to complete 14 days in mandatory isolation in a hotel, under rules designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Monday Australia’s border agency “acted quickly to make sure that the visa on which she entered was canceled” after the footage appeared.
“We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can arrange that,” Andrews told public broadcaster ABC.
“She’s not someone that we want to keep in this country for a second longer than we have to.”
Police later on Monday said a 46-year-old woman had been fined AUD $1,000 ($737) for not wearing a face covering, and transferred to the airport for deportation.
Andrews said Hopkins had been granted a visa with the support of a state government on the basis it would potentially be of economic benefit to the country.
“The fact that she was out there boasting about breaching quarantine was appalling,” Andrews said.
“It was a slap in the face for all those Australians who are currently in lockdown, and it’s just unacceptable behavior. So, personally, I’m very pleased she’ll be leaving.”
Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia, the production company behind the program “Big Brother VIP” in which Hopkins was to appear, said on Sunday her contract was canceled.
“Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine,” the companies said in a joint statement.
Hopkins has long caused controversy by spouting racist, anti-Islamic, and anti-migrant views, and regularly speaks out against coronavirus measures such as lockdowns.
Her social media following was expanded by then-President Donald Trump who often retweeted her before Twitter permanently banned her in June last year for breaching the platform’s hateful conduct policy.
About 12 million Australians are currently under lockdown to curb outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Canberra has also limited the number of people who can enter the country, leaving tens of thousands of Australians stranded overseas.
Little wonder what impact would Hopkin’s presence at the “Big Brother VIP” offer the organizers of the show. The government really took the right step in the right direction.
