Canberra, Dec 2 (IANS): US rapper Chris Brown cancelled the Australian leg of his world tour after he was unable to secure a visa due to the country's hard-line stance on domestic violence.

Chris Brown's tour to Australia and New Zealand would not go ahead, Ticketek, the rapper's Australian ticket sales distributer, said in a press release on Wednesday.

The Australian government denied the 26-year-old's visa request in September due to a well-publicised incident of domestic violence.

Brown's appeal against the decision also proved unsuccessful.

In 2009, Brown was convicted of assault and threatening to kill singer Rihanna, his girlfriend at the time.

While Ticketek conceded the cancellation was a major blow, the group was confident of rescheduling the tour at some stage.

"Brown and the promoters both remain positive that the tour will take place in the near future," the statement read.

"He wishes to express his deepest gratitude to the fans for their support and looks forward to a successful tour in the near future."

In recent months, the government has embarked on a major campaign to rid the nation of domestic violence.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in September said men had to change their attitude toward women and view mistreatment of the opposite sex as "un-Australian".

Brown joined fellow US rapper, Tyler the Creator, as the second American musician to be banned from entering Australia this year.