Detroit rap group D12 were lectured over the weekend by immigration officials on how to conduct themselves in Australia.

The seeming victims of what is Australia's notorious policy towards foreign performers, each member was ordered to report to the Australian consulate in Tokyo for an interview before leaving Japan and commencing the Australian leg of their tour. After protests by tour management and group members, the department agreed it would be enough for a consular official to speak to each member individually at a hotel.

Group member Eminem accused the federal government of taking Australia back to the Dark Ages by reading the riot act to his crew. Australian tour promoter Arash Maddah also found it disturbing.

"At a time when we have countries in the Eastern block embracing freedom of expression, it's kind of funny that Western countries are scurrying back to the days of McCarthyism," Maddah said.

Maddah said he did not know specifics of what was said to each member, only that they were given basic guidelines on how they were expected to behave while in Australia. Bizarre, Proof, Kon Artist, Swift and Kuniva, were then granted visas to enter Australia only eight hours before they were due to leave Japan.

"I have promoted close to 100 acts in Australia and this is the first time I have had this happen," Maddah continued. "I have no idea why this happened. I am as puzzled as anyone else."

The group, focused on getting on with the tour, doesn't intend to pursue the matter.

A departmental spokeswoman said it was common practice for entertainers to be informed of appropriate standards of behavior before arriving in Australia. She also revealed that in some cases artists were singled out for one-on-one interviews with immigration officials.

D12 played at Festival Hall in Melbourne last night (Sunday) before heading to Sydney, Brisbane and then New Zealand.