Foreign thugs who commit violent crimes against women and children to be kicked out of Australia or refused entry under new crackdown
- Officials now able to cancel visas of those found guilty of domestic violence
- Previously those who had not spent 12 months in jail could be spared revocation
- But now even those with conviction for the crimes won’t be allowed in Australia
- New laws came into use on Thursday under directive from immigration minister
Foreigners who commit violent crimes against women or children will be kicked out of Australia or barred from entering the country as part of a tough government directive.
Officials will now be able to cancel the visas of those who have been found guilty of domestic violence after the order by Immigration Minister David Coleman came into force on Thursday.
Previously, foreign visa-holders could only have their visas revoked if they had been in jail for at least 12 months or failed a character test.
Foreigners who commit violent crimes against women or children will be kicked out of Australia or barred from entering the country as part of a tough government directive (stock image)
The new policy within the Department for Immigration come after an Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturned denying a Danish man a visa to enter the country.
His suspended sentence in Denmark of 30 days in jail did not warrant being denied entry to Australia under previous legislation.
But the tribunal would now longer be able to overturn such cases, The Herald Sun reported, despite the convicted person not having serving time in jail.
The laws come into place after Mr Coleman said last year the serious nature of domestic abuse crimes should be recognised in legislation.
‘Entering or remaining in Australia is a privilege and it is expected that non-citizens are, and have been, law-abiding,’ Mr Coleman said.
‘These crimes can inflict long lasting trauma on the victims and their friends and family.’
Officials will now be able to cancel the visas of those who have been found guilty of domestic violence after the order by Immigration Minister David Coleman (pictured) came into force on Thursday
The new directive comes after a government committee recommended victims of foreign criminals should be able to give evidence when a non-citizen appeals against their visa being cancelled.
The recommendations would mean more consideration would be given to the impact offending has on the victim as opposed to the character of the offender.
900 visas were cancelled by the Australian government in the 2017-18 financial year – including those of drug traffickers, sex offenders and bikie gang members.
Previously, foreign visa-holders could only have their visas revoked if they had been in jail for at least 12 months or failed a character test (stock image)