Snoop Dogg's Australian tour in doubt due to criminal past
Melbourne, Aug 27 : American rapper Snoop Dogg's Australian tour seems to be hanging
in the air as the Federal Government has decided to investigate his criminal history.
Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr, had applied for a visa to
Australia last month for a planned tour in October with fellow hip-hop star Ice Cube.
He had been given provisional approval for the visa by the Immigration Department last
week, but the tour once again seems to be in doubt because the department has decided to
carry out a full assessment of Snoop Dogg's character before granting a visa.
A department spokesman said that the provisional approval was given after a preliminary
assessment of Snoop Dogg's character.
"That process is in line with the procedures established by the previous government on
the consideration of visa applicants," News.com.au quoted him as saying.
"Mr Broadus has not been granted a visa, there are further steps required beyond
character assessment before a visa is granted.
"The department has now decided to do a full assessment of the character of Mr
Broadus," he added.
Snoop Dogg withdrew his application for a visa to Australia last year when he failed to
pass the character requirements for a visa, after pleading no contest to gun and drug
charges in the United States.
The Immigration Department denied it was responding to public complaints from victims
of crime groups.
"Community complaints have no effect on the grant or otherwise of a visa. Each
application is assessed individually on its merits," a spokesman said.
--ANI
