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Child Rapist Denied Visa for Beach Volleyball Championships

10/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Steven van de Velde, a convicted child rapist, has been denied entry to Australia for the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide.
He was sentenced to four years in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl and served 13 months.
The South Australian government urged the federal government to reject his visa, stating that child sex offenders should not be allowed entry.
Maher condemned van de Velde as 'utterly abhorrent'.

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Story summary

Steven van de Velde, a convicted child rapist, has been denied entry to Australia for the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide.
He was sentenced to four years in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl and served 13 months.
The South Australian government urged the federal government to reject his visa, stating that child sex offenders should not be allowed entry.
Maher condemned van de Velde as 'utterly abhorrent'.