Minister signals Chris Brown won't be allowed into Australia

CANBERRA, Australia — A government minister has signaled that troubled R&B singer Chris Brown won't be allowed to tour Australia in December because of his criminal conviction for assaulting pop star Rihanna.

 

Michaelia Cash, who was assistant minister for Immigration and Border Protection before a Cabinet reshuffle this week, said Thursday that she would recommend that Immigration Minister Peter Dutton refuse the 25-year-old American a visa on character grounds.

 

She was immediately backed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

 

Both were speaking at the launch of a 100 million Australian dollar ($70 million) government initiative to prevent domestic violence.

 

Britain, Canada and New Zealand have also refused him visas.