Katie Hopkins had her Australian visa cancelled overnight. Photo / Kate Hopkins, Instagram
Far-right commentator Katie Hopkins is being deported from Australia after her controversial quarantine statements.
Newly released photos show the controversial figure out of hotel quarantine and back at Sydney Airport today, looking downcast as she prepared to fly out of the country.
The British media personality, who was axed at the weekend from her upcoming role on Big Brother VIP, had her visa cancelled overnight, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed.
Andrews told ABC News Breakfast: "We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can arrange that. I am hoping that will happen imminently."
In a statement this afternoon, NSW Police confirmed Hopkins had also received a A$1000 (NZ$1055) fine for failure to wear a face mask on Sunday.
"Police attached to the hotel quarantine operation were notified of an alleged breach of the Public Health Order (Covid-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, about 8.45pm on Friday (16 July 2021)," the statement read.
"Following inquiries, a 46-year-old woman was issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice for not wear face covering yesterday (Sunday 18 July 2021).
"NSW Police assisted Australian Border Force with the transfer of the woman to Sydney International Airport this afternoon (Monday 19 July 2021), following the cancellation of her visa, departing to the United Kingdom."
Hopkins arrived in Australia last week on a "critical skills" visa and was widely reported to be joining the next season of the Channel 7 reality series.
But she quickly attracted criticism for her hotel quarantine rants since arriving in NSW, in which she likened Covid-19 to the flu, compared migrants to cockroaches and said people with dementia should not block hospital beds.
Andrews also released a statement this morning, saying Hopkins' behaviour was "despicable".
"It is despicable that anyone would behave in such a way that puts our health officials and community at risk," Andrews said.
Just now: Katie Hopkins has been escorted from her quarantine hotel to Sydney Airport by NSW Police. She is scheduled to be on a plane and out of the country by 3pm. pic.twitter.com/ZMdzxrKbJw
— Liam Mendes (@liammendes) July 19, 2021
"The Morrison Government will always act swiftly to protect the health and safety of the Australian community.
"All visa holders must abide by the health directions issued by our health officials - we won't tolerate those who don't. There's no place in Australia for visa holders who would deliberately endanger others.
"Entry to Australia brings responsibilities and the community rightly expects better. Those who don't live up to the standards can expect to have their visas cancelled and to be removed."
News.com.au understands contestants on Big Brother received an exemption supported by the NSW Government, which approved quarantine for those participating above the quarantine cap.
The Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia issued a statement regarding Hopkins on Sunday afternoon following an intense backlash.
"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," it said.
The UK's Home Affairs Minister said earlier on Sunday that she had asked Australian Border Force to investigate whether Hopkins breached any hotel quarantine rules.
"It is despicable that anyone would behave in such a way that puts our health officials and community at risk," Andrews said.
"I have directed Australian Border Force to immediately consider the facts of this matter and urgently review whether this individual is complying with the requirements of her visa."
A Home Affairs spokeswoman also told news.com.au that Ms Hopkins did not take the place of Australians wanting to return home.
"These travel exemptions were approved based on support by the NSW Government as they met the critical skills category for inwards travel," she said.
"These travellers did not take the place of returning Australians as their travel was above the hotel quarantine caps."
Since the news of her arrival circulated, many Australians and expats questioned how Hopkins was allowed to enter the country, given cuts to the number of overseas Australians allowed to return home.
Hopkins had her Twitter account permanently suspended in June last year for violating the social media giant's "hateful conduct" policy. She was also detained in South Africa in March 2018 for allegedly spreading racial hatred.
Since it was revealed she was in Australia, a petition calling for her removal from the country has been created.
In less than 24 hours, over 22,000 people signed a Change.org petition calling for Hopkins to be returned to the UK.
News.com.au asked Channel Seven whether Hopkins was slated to appear on Big Brother VIP, whether the network was paying for her stay in hotel quarantine and whether the network thought it was responsible to have Hopkins on air.
The network's external public relations co-ordinator, Shoebridge Knowles Media Group director Neil Shoebridge, refused to address the questions on Sunday morning.
"We are not commenting on speculation about the cast of Big Brother VIP," he said.
Victoria MP Andre Giles was one of the first to take aim at the Government for allowing Hopkins into the country.
"Now that Ms Hopkins is in Australia, she has begun broadcasting from what she described as 'VIP quarantine', and has explained how she is opening up her hotel door naked without a face mask in a deliberate attempt to breach hotel quarantine security," he said.
"This is grossly disrespectful to frontline workers who are only trying to keep up safe."
Her arrival came just weeks after the Federal Government announced a reduction in the number of overseas travellers arriving to Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison slashed the numbers to reduce pressure on quarantine facilities amid the Delta variant outbreak.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce made it clear that if Hopkins broke the rules of hotel quarantine he would not be fazed in kicking her out of the country.
"I'm the one who wanted to send home Johnny Depp's dog so I have no problem sending home someone who wants to flout our laws. If you want to do that, pack your bongo and get out of the country," he told the ABC.