Chelsea Manning has been barred from entering Australia ahead of her scheduled tour down under.
The US whistleblower was due to start the tour, which also includes events in New Zealand, on Sunday - but will not be allowed to enter Australia, according to her speaking tour organiser Think Inc.
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- Free Speech Coalition condemns National's stance on Manning's NZ visit
Think Inc says it has received a notice of intention from the Australian government to deny Ms Manning entry.
"Which after a little bit of research and speaking to our legal counsel, we understand is potentially an imminent refusal of her visa," director Suzi Jamil told the ABC on Thursday.
The promoter has called on supporters of Ms Manning to lobby the new Immigration Minister David Coleman to allow her entry.
The former US Army intelligence analyst also plans to enter New Zealand as part of her tour, but the National Party says she should be refused.
Simon Bridges says because Ms Manning is a convicted felon she should not receive special treatment, but Green foreign affairs spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman says she acted in the interests of the public and has also paid a high price for her actions.
The Free Speech Coalition supports Ms Manning's entry into the country, citing Nelson Mandela and 'Wolf of Wall Street' Jordan Belfort as other convicted criminals who have been allowed in.
Think Inc says her visa application is currently sitting with Immigration New Zealand.
Ms Manning was found guilty of espionage and theft and sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking military files to Wikileaks.
Her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, and she was released from prison in May 2017 after a tumultuous seven years behind bars which included two suicide attempts and a hunger strike.
Since her release she has become a political activist and filed to run for US Senate.
If allowed entry into New Zealand, she plans to speak about her time in prison, privacy, transgender issues and Wikileaks.
Two events are planned in Auckland and Wellington on September 8 and 9.
Newshub.
