Australia to refuse Chris Brown visa

Chris Brown has been told he will not be granted a visa for his tour in Australia because of his domestic violence conviction.

The rapper/singer pleaded guilty to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, and was sentenced to five years probation, a year-long domestic violence program, and 180 days of community labor.

He is due to go on tour in December (15) but his visit Down Under was thrown into doubt earlier this month (Sep15) when a campaign was launched to ban him from Australia.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the department has now issued Brown with a "notice of intention to consider refusal", and he has 28 days to appeal and present a case as to why he should be granted a visa, according to the BBC.

Brown has been allowed to tour Australia twice before, but ministers have been under pressure recently to take a stand and refuse him entry.

Michaelia Cash, the country's Minister for Women, said, "People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, 'You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia'."

New Zealand officials have already refused Brown entry, and he was also banned him from touring the U.K. in 2010.

While launching new domestic violence policies on Thursday (24Sep15), Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was questioned about Brown and told reporters, "This is a government that is not afraid to say no... The American singer Chris Brown strangled and beat up his then girlfriend Rihanna, he is set to visit Australia in December, but isn't allowed to enter New Zealand, why should he be allowed to enter the country?"

Brown's visa refusal comes after boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was denied entry to the country earlier this year (15) for similar offenses. He was jailed for 90 days in 2012 for beating a former girlfriend.