One of the world’s most influential conspiracy theorists — and suspected QAnon figure — Ron Watkins has gone silent since his visit to Australia was made public.
Last week, Crikey reported that Watkins had been seen in Sydney, with some evidence suggesting that he was planning on staying beyond the short-term.
Watkins’ father, Jim, later confirmed on a livestream that Watkins was in Australia before walking it back the next day.
“All I know is he’s hiding because he has got some people trying to kill him right now,” said Jim, who is also linked with Ron to the Q account that birthed the QAnon conspiracy theory. (Ron Watkins has denied being Q.)
Since then, Watkins has stopped posting to social media. His last post to his more than 300,000 followers on Telegram was on August 8. Prior to that, Watkins had already posted nine times that month and dozens of times the month before.
Watkins has clearly been online as more than 20 posts on his Telegram account mentioning Australia had been deleted since Crikey reported his Australia trip. These included:
- A claim that Australians are applying for asylum in other countries to “escape the tyranny of MEDICAL FASCISM”.
- An unfounded rumour that Australia would be “importing vaccinated Chinese construction workers to replace their unvaccinated domestic workers”.
- A post saying that Australian government social media bots were waging a “disinformation battle” about last year’s trucker protests.
- Other messages saying that Australia is “the testing grounds for what the elites are planning”, the “canary in the coal mine”.
Why Watkins has gone silent while also trying to sanitise his online history is unclear. One possible explanation is that Watkins is trying to avoid being deported.
Visitors to Australia must fulfil requirements in the Migration Act 1958 to be granted a visa. This visa can be rejected or cancelled after being granted on health and character grounds. High-profile figures who’ve had their visas refused or cancelled include conspiracy theorist David Icke, Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes and far-right commentator Katie Hopkins.
Many QAnon experts and journalists have provided evidence suggesting Watkins has been in control of the Q account, including Watkins’ own admission in a documentary. Even if Watkins is not behind Q, he has emerged as one of the world’s leading conspiracy theorists and was responsible for running the 8kun website that has inspired mass shootings and hosted child pornography.
The Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on whether it was aware of Ron Watkins’ conspiracy links and had considered cancelling his visa on character grounds.
“The department does not comment on individual cases,” a department spokesperson said.
This bloke should be treated like an arsonist on a high fire alert day.
MAYBE THE LIBERAL PARTY SHOULD MAKE HIM THEIR NEW LEADER HE WOULD CERTAINLY FIT IN IN VERY COMFORTABLY ALONGSIDE DUTTON, CASH AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS , JUST GET MORRISON TO ADVISE ON HOW TO KEEP IT A SECRET APPOINTMENT.
Maybe time for the Minister to use those god like powers and expell this pestilential foreigner under so many failures of the character test in section 501 of the Migration Act 1958. The spooks might like to have a few words with him as well before his deportation.
While I personally would love to see this nutjob in the Departure Lounge, unless he fails the Character Test he gets to stay:
Under subsection 501(6)(c) of the Migration Act, a person does not pass the character test if, having regard to the person’s past and present criminal conduct and/or general conduct, the person is ‘not of good character’.
One of the criteria under Direction 55 is:
whether the person has been involved in activities which show contempt or disregard for the law or human rights (such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorist activities, drug trafficking, ‘political extremism’, extortion, fraud, or ‘a history of serious breaches of immigration law’)
I wonder if he meets the criteria for political extremism as it doesn’t appear to be a defined term?
Understand but he isn’t Australian so we can refuse him. The less nutjob Yanks in Australia spreading their toxic “culture” the better IMO. That’s left or right BTW.
I wouldn’t even expel CCP flaks & apologists – far better to show them for the pathetic slaves that they are.
It’s just a waste of energy trying to have a contiguous conversation now…un-moderated even shorter attempt: yes, quite.
Political extremism = tick (see previous post)
“Q” is a conspiracy theory that has done untold damage, and is a direct element in the Jan 6 riots.
It has fostered a belief that Democrats and “elites” are hiding children underground to drink their “adenochrome” in order to live forever; it has called for all Democrats to be deported to Guantanamo and be summarily executed.
He, personally, has tweeted call for the arrest of the former Vice President for “treason”.
That is not a legitimate “political belief”. Deport the guy.
But not in superior, super-intelligent, uber-menscht natural overlords like you, right now? It’s perfectly safe for you to hear his stuff – which obviously you must have, because apparently you know in forensic detail every thing he’s ever said, and the direct causal impact it’s had on lesser beings.
Think his you are here to tell us all what is and isn’t a legitimate religious, sorry, political belief. See you in your church on Sunday, Joe, I know you will be watching through the curtains to make sure so don’t nip off down the pub instead.
W*nker.
Ok.