More facts to detainee case
Letter to the Editor - The Ballarat Courier
23 February
Dear Sir/Madam,
There is a failure in your report ($227,000 bill for detainee, Ballarat Courier, 14/2/07) to identify all the facts of Ali Bakhtiarvandi’s case.
The detention debt policy, introduced in 1992, ensured all unlawful non-citizens – such as Ali Bakhtiarvandi – took responsibility for costs associated with their detention.
By his own admission, Mr Bakhtiarvandi arrived in Australia unlawfully. His claims for protection were thoroughly assessed and refused. As such he is not a refugee.
However, while in detention he accrued a Commonwealth debt of $227,000.
In August 2004, he was granted a temporary spouse visa. In November 2006, he agreed to pay this debt when he received his permanent spouse visa. It’s a shame this admission was overlooked, either in your reporting or in what you were told.
Finally, as he holds a permanent visa and has agreed to pay the detention debt, he is – contrary again to your reporting – allowed to depart and enter Australia as he wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Sandi Logan
National Communications Manager
Department of Immigration and Citizenship