Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

) ( ): Many people in the La Trobe electorate have raised concerns about the appalling decisions of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Since 2010, eight killers and 68 other criminals with shocking records of violence are among foreign born criminals that the AAT has saved from deportation. How can decisions of the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel the visas of rapists, paedophiles, murderers and drug traffickers be overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, even though ministerial delegates argued that the deportations were necessary to protect Australians and that almost all of those they wanted to boot out of the country had substantial criminal records? We want to make sure that we have migrants in our country and welcome them warmly but, if people commit violent crimes against other Australians, they need to understand that the default position is that they will be deported.

As chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, we shall examine the review processes associated with visa cancellations made on criminal grounds. In conducting this inquiry, the committee shall have particular regard to the efficiency of existing review processes as they relate to decisions made under section 501 of the Migration Act and the scope of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's jurisdiction to review ministerial decisions—something I look forward to in the committee hearings which will begin in July.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.