Australian Government Defends Giving Katie Hopkins A 'Critical Skills' Visa

The Australian government has explained why Katie Hopkins was allowed to come into the country amid a pandemic.

Only select people outside of citizens and permanent residents are permitted to fly to Australia and many questions are being raised about the UK commentator's inclusion.

She was flown in from Britain to partake in Big Brother VIP, which is a celebrity version of the reality TV show.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has explained how the NSW government contacted the federal department to see if it could get Hopkins a visa.

The state government said there was an 'economic benefit' of having the commentator in Australia.

Ms Andrews added that this sort of request happens 'reasonably regularly'.

Despite Katie's shocking comments in the past, it seems like she fit the bill for a 'critical skills' visa and was permitted to fly Down Under.

Ms Andrews said in the wake of the anger of her arrival: "We need people to be able to come into this country where there is an economic benefit for them to do so.

"People will be supported to come into the country where states are sponsoring them on the basis of economic benefit."

The move has been understandably criticised by people all across Australia, with many asking how she passed the 'pub test' for a visa.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese was one of the louder critics, telling reporters: "Australia should never have let this right-wing nut job in.

"It is a disgrace. The fact that the federal government gave this woman a visa is outrageous and an insult to all those stranded Australians overseas."

It was a kick in the teeth for the thousands of Aussies who are still stranded overseas that Ms Hopkins was allowed to jump in front of them.

Ms Andrews said she understood 'how galling it is' but 'she didn't take the place of an Australian in need coming back'.

It only made things worst when Ms Hopkins bragged about breaking hotel quarantine rules.

She uploaded an Instagram Live where she spoke about opening the door naked and maskless, which was explained to her as against the rules.

This sparked a wave of calls for her to be kicked out of the country for flouting the rules so brazenly.

The Australian government eventually agreed and admitted Ms Hopkins was no longer welcome in Australia if she wasn't going to play by the rules.

"The fact that she was out there boasting about breaching quarantine was appalling," Ms Andrews told the ABC.

"It was a slap in the face for all those Australians who are currently in lockdown, and it's just unacceptable behaviour.

"Personally, I'm very pleased she'll be leaving."

Ms Hopkins was also fined $1,000 for breaking the rules and was escorted to the airport to be put on a flight back to the UK.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia, Katie Hopkins

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie