Correcting Iain's view

Letter to the Editor - Port Lincoln Times
05 February 2009

It is ironic your columnist talks up his tolerance when he all too readily accepts race-based assumptions (Send him back, 5/02/09) without checking his facts.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) operates a global and non-discriminatory migration program. It is preposterous to suggest 'Brazil is not a preferred country on Australia's immigration list' because there is no such list.

Indeed, there were some 435 Brazilians who migrated permanently to Australia in 2007-08 and more than 2000 over the past decade.

There were also more than 11 000 Brazilians in Australia on temporary visas as at June 30 last year.

If the Brazilian partner of your columnist's daughter is in a genuine spousal relationship with her and meets the other criteria for grant of a permanent visa – such as health and character – he, like any other spouse or fiancé visa applicant, will be eligible for grant of a visa.

To suggest country of birth has any influence on this process is plain wrong.

Sandi Logan
National Communications Manager,
Department of Immigration and Citizenship