Search icon

Coronavirus

19th Jul 2021

Katie Hopkins deported from Australia after boasting of quarantine breach

Kieran Galpin

Hopkins to return home

The Australian government has cancelled Katie Hopkins’ visa and deported her after Hopkins boasted about breaching hotel quarantine conditions, The Guardian reports.

The cancellation was announced by the home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, on Monday and followed a decision by Endemol Shine Australia to cancel her contract to appear on Seven Network’s Big Brother VIP. In her usual tone Hopkins described restrictions as “the greatest hoax in human history”.

“So she came in here on the basis of potential benefit to the economy,” said the home affairs minister.

New South Wales police in a statement said Hopkins had been fined $1,000 for allegedly failing to wear a mask while also boasting about in-depth plans to avoid following restrictions. The police said they assisted in deporting the commentator on a Monday afternoon flight.

Andrews slated Hopkins’ behaviour was “shameful”, describing it as “a slap in the face for all those Australians who are currently in lockdown”.

“The fact that she was out there boasting about breaching quarantine was appalling,” she told ABC News Breakfast.

“We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can possibly arrange that. So I’m hopeful that it will happen imminently.”

 Labor MP Josh Burns also spoke on the issue, stating she should have never been allowed in the country:

“This should never have happened, and now her behaviour is putting people at risk.

He said Hopkins had called Islam disgusting, migrants ‘cockroaches’ and called for a ‘final solution.”

“How does she get a visa, let alone a spot in quarantine over Australians?”

The network producing Big Brother VIP released the following statement:

“Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia confirm that Katie Hopkins is not part of Big Brother VIP.

“Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine.”