Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

Tests of Character

The deportation of a drug addict with criminal convictions on 'character' grounds has to be one of the most despicable and callous acts of the former Immigration Minister to date. The action has left the man stateless and desperate on the streets of Belgrade - when a domestic rehabilitation program would have been the appropriately just and humane response. Though he lacked citizenship, the man grew up and lived here almost all his life, and was not born in the country he was deported to: it is surely an abuse of power to distinguish this man as 'non-Australian' purely because of his petty crimes and addictions. No Australian addict could be treated in a similarly arbitrary manner - in theory; other abuses related to arbitrary detention of citizens and deportation have been well documented lately. Ministerial 'discretion' seems to be replacing the legal system at every opportunity for this extremist government.

Note: Who, it should be asked, administers and sets the standards for the 'character test' that has resulted in 233 permanent residents being evicted from their own country? The DIMIA web site indicates that the 'test' includes such loosely defined 'catch-all' benchmarks as

'having regard to the person's past and present general conduct, the person is found to be not of good character'

Discretionary powers based on the ambiguity of the character provisions of Section 501 of the Migration Act seem to lend themselves very nicely to arbitrary interpretation.

Otherwise, would any number of accused ex-Nazi war criminals who emmigrated be still living in Australia, for instance? Or perhaps mass murder by a fellow 'anti-leftist' is evidence to a conservative of better 'character' than pleas for help from a drug addict.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 12:38 pm ::