Deportation of non-citizens convicted of serious criminal offences

Letter to the Editor - Melbourne Herald Sun
12 December 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

I refer to Mary Coburn's letter of 12 December regarding deportation of non-citizens convicted of serious criminal offences.

I would like to assure Ms Coburn that all non-citizens who commit a serious criminal offence can have their visa cancelled and may be removed from Australia. The High Court decision clarifies that this also includes British subjects who arrived in Australia since 1949 if they have not taken out Australian citizenship.

The Australian Government expects non-citizens who are granted a visa to come to Australia to obey Australian laws.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA