Sending them home!

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

I found this quite surprising. I didn't know that so many Kiwi's were in detention.

 

It's quite informative as I didn't know what the level of offence warranted refusal for entry.

 

Do you think that we should be so strict with our entry rules or should there be leniency after a period of time has passed?

I have family members (his side not mine!) who would like to visit but due to crimes in their younger days...they are prevented from doing so.

 

How times change from when it was a requirement to get here...

 

Kiwis are the second-largest population in Australian immigration detention centres

 

September 24, 2015 11:30pm

PAUL TOOHEYNews Corp Australia Network

 

More Kiwis are being put in detention ... the Australian government is sending many of them home. Picture: FileEXCLUSIVE

In just under one year, New Zealanders have become the second-largest population in Australian immigration detention centres, beaten only by Iranians.

And authorities are throwing out criminal Kiwis in unprecedented numbers, sending hundreds home in the last 12 months for failing the government’s “character test”.

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Twelve months ago, Kiwi immigration detention numbers were so small they did not rate a mention by nationality in government reports. Iranians, Sri Lankans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Afghans and stateless people led the list.

Now they have surged close to the top — most of them serious criminals who have been picked up under section 501 of the Immigration Act, which was amended late last year.

The December changes meant that anyone who failed the character test faced mandatory cancellation of their visa.

And the Australian government has demonstrated it is not going to make an exception of our close friends from across the ditch when it comes to sending them packing.

Behind bars ... many Kiwis are failing the character test in our detention centres.The character-test rule applies to anyone who has been sentenced to a jail term of 12 months or more, or anyone convicted of a sexually based offence involving a child, including viewing child pornography on a computer.

Since December last year, 444 Kiwis has have their visas cancelled — 178 of them for violent crimes.

Most have been sent home but on the latest figures released yesterday, 184 (165 men and 19 women) are being held in Immigration detention centres.

There are currently 407 Iranians in detention and, after Kiwis, 171 Sri Lankans.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told News Corp Australia: “Millions of visitors come to Australia each year. The vast majority do the right thing and abide by our laws and we welcome them warmly.

“But the tiny minority who break the law and the conditions of their visa and harm our community are not welcome.

Cracking down ... immigration detention centres are stopping Kiwis from coming into Australia.“Similarly if Australians visit New Zealand or any other country and break the law they should be sent back to Australia.”

The New Zealand High Commission in Canberra declined to make comment on its citizens in detention, or how it managed repatriations.

The NZ Foreign Affairs Department issued only a brief statement: “The management of trans-Tasman deportations is a matter of ongoing discussion between the New Zealand and Australian Governments.”

Of the 444 who had their visas cancelled since December, 178 were convicted of assault and other violent offences, 47 were convicted of drug offences and 42 of armed robbery. Another 25 were cancelled for child-sex offences, and eight for rape and sexual offences.

Those who remain in detention have the chance to appeal their visa cancellations or bring court challenges.

A number of Kiwis are understood to be held on Christmas Island, which has become a major centre for criminals with cancelled visas.

Most are repatriated on commercial flights. The Department confirmed that so far, 80 New Zealanders had been forcibly removed this year, while others had voluntarily returned.

[clarkes]

Ha ha ha

Mainly sheep related offences.

 

Just how serious an offence does it have to be?