OUTSPOKEN New Zealand church leader, Bishop Brian Tamaki, has accused the Albanese and Luxon governments of collaborating to silence him.
Bishop Tamaki arrived in Brisbane on Tuesday with his family, and planned to speak at a conference of his Destiny Church, which has congregations across New Zealand and Australia.
But when the bishop arrived at customs he was detained by Australian Border Force officers and taken to a very small room, where he was interrorgated for 12 hours.
The bishop said the questions asked by Border Force officers aligned with those asked by police in New Zealand, who have charged Bishop Tamaki with three counts of inciting racial disharmony under Section 131 of the Human Rights Act 1993.
Australian authorities then cancelled the bishop’s visa under Section 116 of Australia’s Migration Act, refusing him entry into the country.
He was then placed under guard at an immigration detention centre and deported back to New Zealand the following day.
The bishop, in a social media post, said Australian Border Force documents gave the following reasons for his detention and deportation::
– “your social media statements have been inflammatory and concerning.”
.. “your presence in Australia may risk the good order of the Australian community, or a segment of the Australian community, namely the Sikh and Muslim communities.”
– “…made multiple statements online concerning his views of other religions namely Sikh and Islam.”
“I was travelling to Australia to preach at a Christian conference, not to commit a crime,” he said.
“This may be the first time that a Christian conference is put under a hate crime investigation in Australian history. This is a dangerous trajectory towards criminalising Christianity.”
The bishop said his detention and deportation happened within days of him facing three charges of alleged “racial disharmony” in New Zealand.
“I want answers about whether New Zealand authorities shared information with Australia and what role, if any, that played in this decision. Mark Mitchell (the NZ Police Minister) and the New Zealand Police need to be put under the spotlight here.”
The bishop says politicians appear to be at war with their own people. “That’s how I see it. Governments should be protecting the fundamental freedoms of their citizens, not treating outspoken people as threats simply because their views are unpopular.
“Is this where we are heading? Where challenging religious beliefs can see a Christian pastor prosecuted in his own country and refused entry into another?
“I am fine. I am home.And I am more energised than ever in this fight to protect freedom of speech.
“You can stop me at a border. You can cancel my visa. You can drag me through the courts, but you will not silence my voice.
“This is bigger than Brian Tamaki. It raises serious questions about freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the rights of Christians to openly preach their beliefs.”
Bishop Tamaki will be speaking out again at a rally for free speech in Britomart Square, Auckland CBD, on October 31st from midday.
PEAK!
TRUTH IS NOT HATE SPEECH! _____________________________
31 OCTOBER – GET THEM OUT!
12PM | BRITOMART SQUARE | AUCKLAND
Enough is enough!
STAND UP FOR FREE SPEECH. STAND UP FOR NZ!
