Milo Yiannopoulos is set to visit Australia again, with the Immigration Minister set to override Department of Home Affairs advice that the controversial right-wing speaker should be banned on character grounds.

The British commentator has made a career out of attacking feminism, political correctness and Islam.

The speaking tour, which is due to take place before the May federal election, will proceed despite Yiannopoulos owing Victoria Police $50,000 to cover policing costs.

In December 2017, a rally in the inner Melbourne suburb of Kensington turned violent when opposing protesters clashed outside the venue where Yiannopoulos was speaking.

Heavily armed police used capsicum spray and at least two people were arrested.

A police officer was also struck by rocks and suffered minor injuries.

Last week Nine Newspapers reported that Yiannopoulos’ visa application had been rejected by the Morrison government.

The change in heart follows pressure o n Immigation Minister David Coleman by conservative MPs, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and former human rights commissioner Tim Wilson, arguing that banning the all-right speaker would be a blow to freedom of speech.

“Milo is a boring, unimaginative, self-absorbed attention-seeker of questionable character,” Mr Wilson told The Australian.

“But free speech is for everyone, hence I was surprised by the news and have raised it with the minister.”

The Migration Act allows the government to refuse a visa in the event a person would “incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community”.

The department listed “controversial statements” by Yiannopoulos about Muslims, indigenous Australians, African-Americans and the LGBTIQ community. He’s also accused of anti-Semitism.

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong told reporters on Saturday that the government had changed its mind on Yiannopoulos after being pressured by right-wing commentators.

“I think we can decide who we want to come to Australia.

“This is the bloke who has condoned relationships between younger boys and older men. He’s a bloke who has described feminism as a cancer and Islam as AIDS. Do we really want these ideas given this sort of coverage in Australia?” Senator Wong said allowing Yiannopoulos in was not good for national cohesion.

“Let’s be clear about what has happened. Some right wing commentators have got angry about it so the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party decided to change their mind.”