'Trying to get a headline': Chris Hipkins on anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Whether a British anti-trans activist’s visa waiver into New Zealand will be lifted is still to be decided, but Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is steering clear of involvement in the escalating saga.
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's entry for speaking events in Wellington and Auckland this weekend may be in doubt after her rally in Melbourne erupted into clashes between LGBTI activists and some of her supporters, a number of whom were seen throwing Nazi salutes.
Immigration general manager Richard Owen said Keen-Minshull’s case was being reviewed “as quickly as possible” and he expected it to be resolved before the end of the week at the latest.
Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, posted a video on Twitter in response, challenging Hipkins to revoke her visa “at his peril”.
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In response to Hipkins saying he condemned people who abused their right to freedom of speech to “create division”, Keen-Minshull called him a misogynist and said: “Roll the dice, my friend. I don't think you’ll dare to keep me from coming into New Zealand. But we’ll see.”
Hipkins, when asked on Tuesday about Keen-Minshull’s view the visa review was “Orwellian”, said it sounded like a statement of someone just “trying to get a headline”.
When asked whether he thought she should be allowed in, he said he didn’t know all the facts of the case.
“It's not a case that I'm going to involve myself and I'm not a decision maker in the case. And I'll respect whatever outcome comes from it.”
If there was a need for a ministerial decision, Hipkins said it would go to the Minister of Immigration.
In the video Keen-Minshull maintained she was a women's rights campaigner and suggested she could take legal action against the media and politicians she believed had defamed her.
As a British citizen, Keen-Minshull does not need a visa to enter the country. However, her waiver may be lifted, meaning she would have to apply for a visa, which has a requirement that holders must not be a risk to New Zealand’s security or public order.
Local government officials in Wellington and Auckland have both spoken out in preparation of Keen-Minshull’s planned events.
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau said on Monday she strongly condemned Keen-Minshull’s group, and would be working closely with police to ensure the event and any counter-protests were peaceful.
An Auckland Council spokesperson also said a health and safety plan was provided alongside the organiser’s event permit application.
“The event organisers have the primary responsibility to ensure they run a safe and secure event, and we have been informed that they have hired their own security team.”
Police would be present to monitor and respond to any issues that might arise, and to minimise disruption to the wider public.
Let Women Speak NZ organising committee member Tania Sturt said the protesters who attended in Melbourne had hijacked the event and sidelined the women who had spoken there.
“The protesters in Melbourne throwing Nazi salutes were in no way allied to or supportive of Ms Keen. They were merely utilising her platform for their own agenda.
She said security was a high priority for the organisers. “We have gone beyond the council requirements, sourced exceptional skilled security, liaised with the police and planned health and safety procedures to a high standard.
“We are well aware of the risk from anti-women's rights protesters or people wishing to derail our intended goal which is to give space for women to speak. We are dedicated 100% to peaceful rallies.”
The group was concerned some politicians were encouraging protesters to “silence women”, instead of supporting women’s freedom of speech.
A counter protest by a queer activist group is now planned in Wellington on Sunday afternoon when Keen’s event is to be held.