Tom Elliott expresses confusion over tribunal’s decision to prevent deportation of renowned criminals
Tom Elliott has expressed confusion at the news the Administrative Appeals Tribunal decided to allow two criminals, who could be safely deported back to their country of origin to stay in Australia.
He says a debate has formed over Direction 99 which has prevented deportation in many cases.
“If a person like Kevin Farrugia came to Australia from Malta when he was 17-months-old, does that really mean he’s Australian,” he said.
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“If you’ve lived here all your life, you’ve never bothered to get an Australian passport, and you commit a string of offences – you go back to your old country,” he added.
National Criminal Justice spokesman for Australian Lawyers Alliance, Greg Barns SC, says there are other reasons for why criminals may be allowed to stay in Australia.
“One of the issues is children, certainly in cases I’ve done, it’s been a major factor,” he said.
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