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Kiwi deported from Australia despite no criminal convictions

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 4 Dec 2017, 2:49PM
The man had lived in Australia for 15 years. (Photo/Getty)
The man had lived in Australia for 15 years. (Photo/Getty)

Kiwi deported from Australia despite no criminal convictions

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 4 Dec 2017, 2:49PM

A drunken night out in Australia has ruined one Kiwi-born man's life.

Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation workers are helping a 21-year-old to settle in Christchurch after he was deported back to New Zealand.

The man has lived in Australia since he was six, but was ruled a risk to public health and safety earlier this year.

After a drunken night out on the town, the Australian government deported him under section 116 of their immigration law, saying he was a risk to the community.

Prisoners Aid manager Helen Murphy said this is despite the fact the man has no criminal convictions.

"The ones he had in Australia have been dropped since he's been deported, so the reality is he doesn't have any criminal convictions in Australia either."

Murphy said it's a growing problem for Christchurch, with two such cases in two weeks, and they don't know how they'll cope leading up to Christmas.

She said that Australia needs to offer amnesty to people like this, and is stunned that he won't ever be able to return.

"I feel there has to be some leeway, that people can go back for very special reasons."

Murphy said that should include if family members are sick.

A law change in 2015 saw the Australian government ramp up its deportation policy around Kiwi-born criminals.

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