The US rapper Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Australia because of recent convictions for drugs and firearms offences.
Australia's immigration minister, Kevin Andrews, said today that the 35-year-old millionaire would not be allowed into the country on a short-stay visa because of his extensive criminal record.
The star had been due to take part in MTV's Australian Video Music Awards, which take place in Sydney this weekend.
"He has a whole string of convictions. He doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want in this country," Mr Andrews said in an interview with Sydney's Macquarie radio news.
The rapper recently pleaded no contest to felony, gun and drug charges in Los Angeles court and was sentenced to five years probation and 800 hours of community service.
Last month he and fellow rapper P Diddy also had to cancel a planned tour of Britain after the Home Office denied him a visa.
It followed an incident at Heathrow Airport in April last year in which Snoop Dogg and five men in his entourage were arrested and spent a night in jail for starting a fight after some of them were denied access to British Airways' first-class lounge. Seven police officers were injured in the fracas.
Australia's decision to deny him entry was based on "character grounds" Mr Andrews said, and the fact that he had overstayed a previous visa by two days. "He was warned last time he was here that any further transgression could lead to him not being allowed back in," he said.
Under Australian law, the rapper has been given notice of intention to cancel his visa, but can put material forward to argue his case. MTV executives in Australia said they still hoped to overturn the ban and said they had six immigration specialists working on the case.
"We're helping Snoop in his application to reverse the decision to reject his visa," said MTV's managing director Dave Sibly. "We're putting a lot of energy in to making a case for how popular Snoop is and the fact he's been here before without incident. We respect the process and will abide by whatever decision is taken, but it's not over yet."
