Chris Brown Asks for Australian Entry Visa 'to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence'

American rapper Chris Brown responded to the Australian government's intention to refuse him entry due to a history of domestic abuse, saying he hopes to use his status as an entertainer to raise awareness about the issue.

The 26-year-old rapper described himself as a changed man on Twitter last night and said he hopes to use his influence to educate others about domestic violence.

"I would be more than grateful to come to Australia to raise awareness about domestic violence," the Grammy-winner posted. "I'm not the pink elephant in the room anymore."

A spokesman for Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's said on Sunday that a notice had been sent to Brown indicating that the Australian government intends to refuse him entry to the country, according to Reuters, and giving the singer a chance to respond.

"People to whom these notices are issued have 28 days to present material as to why they should be given a visa to enter Australia," the spokesman said in a statement.

Once Brown has responded, a final decision will be made about whether the visa should be granted.

Earlier this month, the country's new minister for women, Michaelia Cash, urged Dutton to refuse Brown's entry because of his history of domestic abuse. Advocacy group GetUp launched a petition at the time also calling on Dutton not to grant the visa.

"People need to understand," Cash said at the time, "if you are going to commit domestic violence and you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, 'You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia.'"

Brown had been due to perform at a series of concerts in four Australian cities in December.

In 2009, Brown was sentenced to five years probation after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend at the time, pop singer Rihanna. Since the incident he has been denied entry to Canada, New Zealand and the U.K.

It follows the Australian government's decision earlier this year to deny boxer Floyd Mayweather a visa due to his 2012 conviction for a domestic battery offence. Referring to the Mayweather case, Cash said at the time that it was a good example of the Australian government not being "afraid to say no."