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US anti-abortion activist Troy Newman detained by customs in Melbourne US anti-abortion activist Troy Newman detained by customs in Melbourne
(35 minutes later)
An American anti-abortion advocate who had his visa to Australia cancelled has travelled to Australia and is now seeking legal grounds to restrain the federal government from deporting him. An American anti-abortion advocate who had his visa to Australia cancelled has travelled to Australia and is seeking legal grounds to restrain the federal government from deporting him.
Troy Newman, also known as Troy Newman-Mariotti, had his visa cancelled on Tuesday after it emerged that he had advocated for the execution of abortion doctors in a book he had written in 2000. Troy Newman, also known as Troy Newman-Mariotti, had his visa cancelled on Tuesday after it emerged he had advocated for the execution of abortion doctors in a book he had written in 2000.
“Despite having no visa to enter Australia Mr Newman-Mariotti boarded a flight and arrived in Melbourne this morning,” a spokeswoman for the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said. “The airline faces a fine for carriage of a person who does not have a valid visa.” “Despite having no visa to enter Australia Mr Newman-Mariotti boarded a flight and arrived in Melbourne this morning,” a spokeswoman for the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said. “The airline faces a fine for carriage of a person who does not have a valid visa.
“Since Mr Newman-Mariotti does not hold a visa, he is unable to enter Australia and remains in the presence of Australian Border Force officials at the Melbourne airport pending his removal,” she said. “An injunction was lodged in the federal court seeking to restrain the government from preventing his entry.” “Since Mr Newman-Mariotti does not hold a visa, he is unable to enter Australia and remains in the presence of Australian border force officials at the Melbourne airport pending his removal.
“An injunction was lodged in the federal court seeking to restrain the government from preventing his entry.”
Related: US anti-abortion campaigner denied visa for Australia after Labor's interventionRelated: US anti-abortion campaigner denied visa for Australia after Labor's intervention
Newman had been due to start a 10-day speaking tour of Australia, backed by Right to Life Australia.Newman had been due to start a 10-day speaking tour of Australia, backed by Right to Life Australia.
The national president of the organisation, Margaret Tighe, confirmed to Guardian Australia that Newman was in the country, but declined to answer questions on how he managed to make it in without a visa, and on what grounds he was seeking to stay.The national president of the organisation, Margaret Tighe, confirmed to Guardian Australia that Newman was in the country, but declined to answer questions on how he managed to make it in without a visa, and on what grounds he was seeking to stay.
Social media posts by Newman and his organisation, Operation Rescue, say that the anti-abortion advocate was being held by the Australian government as a “political prisoner” and that he was being denied freedom of speech.Social media posts by Newman and his organisation, Operation Rescue, say that the anti-abortion advocate was being held by the Australian government as a “political prisoner” and that he was being denied freedom of speech.
Troy Newman's detained until deportation from Australia - may take 72 hrs. He is a political prisoner silenced by pro abort lies! #unjustTroy Newman's detained until deportation from Australia - may take 72 hrs. He is a political prisoner silenced by pro abort lies! #unjust
Newman Detained in Australia Pending Deportation Due to Pro-Abortion Campaign of Falsehoods http://t.co/ul0S7tXYgD #FreeTroyNewman #Unjust
It is unclear how Newman entered the country, as a previous Facebook post shows him being stopped at Denver airport because he did not have a valid visa for his onward flight from Los Angeles.
“Through a chain of events the Lord has allowed me to get on a plane in spite of many objections by the airlines and Australia,” Newman wrote on Facebook early on Thursday morning. “We have been in the air 11 hours and will land in about 4. Please pray that we can get past immigration so the truth can be told throughout Australia.”
Labor backbencher Terri Butler, who wrote a letter to Dutton asking him to reconsider Newman’s visa, said it was “disingenuous” for Newman to claim he was being silenced, given his large social media profile.
“Australia has the right to enforce our border, like any other country,” she told Guardian Australia. “If you fly to a sovereign nation without a valid visa … you have to expect the law will apply.”
Butler said the debate around abortion was not the reason Newman’s visa was cancelled, but rather his advocacy of killing doctors who perform abortions.
“This type of extremism may fly in the US, but not here in Australia,” she said.