Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has challenged Australia's immigration minister to meet him during a speaking tour of the country this month. Wilders said Chris Bowen, who has called Wilders an extremist and criticised his writings as offensive and wrong-headed, should meet him to debate his beliefs.Wilders was forced to cancel a speaking tour last October after the decision to grant him a visa was postponed. At the time, Bowen said he finally decided to permit the visit because to refuse would give Wilders the opportunity to become a cause celebre.
Wilders said, "I am not going to insult your Minister of Immigration, even though he insulted me. But he is wrong, I am not an extremist. I represent the third biggest party in the Dutch parliament, nearly one million people voted for my party and now we are No 2 in the polls.
"Perhaps, if he is a real man, he would like to meet with me and discuss the issues publicly or privately, I don't care."
A spokesman for Bowen confirmed Wilders would be allowed to enter Australia on the visa he was granted last year, but the minister would decline his invitation to meet. He said, "The minister made his views very clear last year. He has absolutely no desire or plans to meet Mr Wilders."