Australian Man Robert Jovicic Gets A Visa?
Not your ABC | 20.02.2007 02:22 | Repression | Social Struggles | World
An Australian man who has lived in Australia since he was a child has been given a two-year visa and has thanked the Immigration Sinister Kevin Andrews for allowing him to stay home. What he can be assured of though is that he is an Australian no matter what the John Howard government say.
Federal Aliens
Robert Jovicic was deported to Serbia in 2004 after committing a series of crimes but was allowed to return on compassionate grounds. Gee thanks!
But regardless of the alleged compassion shown by the John Howard government Australia is his home country and he like many others has been victimised by the John Howard government and this is not an isolated case.
Mr Jovicic has lived in Australia since he was a child, but he never became an Australian citizen. So what! And had been threatened with detention and deportation if he did not apply for Serbian citizenship.
Even though Mr Jovicic has said he is grateful for the opportunity to remain in his country, despite not knowing what will happen after two years he can be reassured that the community is right there beside him supporting his right to stay - where he has lived nearly all the days of his life......
Mr Jovicic says his future remains uncertain.
"I would like to thank the Minister for allowing me a reprieve and softening his stance on the Serbian citizenship application, so I'm very thankful for that opportunity, given the fact that I had my bags packed for Villawood tonight," he said.
Mr Jovicic: "My life's in limbo and it's not a nice place to be, I assure you that, you know there's no guarantees that I'm going to remain in this country and it's extremely tough," he said.
"I'm not asking for a free ride here you know, just a chance to prove myself."
But not according to the Australian community. Actually it is the other way around. All the war criminals are uncertain and the residence are quite safe and secure.
Australian's don't have to prove themselves at all because we are all priceless children of our wonderful universe and we have the right to be here. His circumstances about being born prior his flight to Australia should not be of any concern to anyone or anyone elses business.
He's lived here most of his life and the paperwork on all grounds is not the determining factor logically but ministers complaining bureaucratically?
Therefore rest assured Mr Jovicic that commonsense grants you mitigation and reason and that you are an Australian. So as far as the rest of the community is concerned you don't have to prove that and we'll support you until all the kangaroos all come home.
Shame Howard, shame on you!
But regardless of the alleged compassion shown by the John Howard government Australia is his home country and he like many others has been victimised by the John Howard government and this is not an isolated case.
Mr Jovicic has lived in Australia since he was a child, but he never became an Australian citizen. So what! And had been threatened with detention and deportation if he did not apply for Serbian citizenship.
Even though Mr Jovicic has said he is grateful for the opportunity to remain in his country, despite not knowing what will happen after two years he can be reassured that the community is right there beside him supporting his right to stay - where he has lived nearly all the days of his life......
Mr Jovicic says his future remains uncertain.
"I would like to thank the Minister for allowing me a reprieve and softening his stance on the Serbian citizenship application, so I'm very thankful for that opportunity, given the fact that I had my bags packed for Villawood tonight," he said.
Mr Jovicic: "My life's in limbo and it's not a nice place to be, I assure you that, you know there's no guarantees that I'm going to remain in this country and it's extremely tough," he said.
"I'm not asking for a free ride here you know, just a chance to prove myself."
But not according to the Australian community. Actually it is the other way around. All the war criminals are uncertain and the residence are quite safe and secure.
Australian's don't have to prove themselves at all because we are all priceless children of our wonderful universe and we have the right to be here. His circumstances about being born prior his flight to Australia should not be of any concern to anyone or anyone elses business.
He's lived here most of his life and the paperwork on all grounds is not the determining factor logically but ministers complaining bureaucratically?
Therefore rest assured Mr Jovicic that commonsense grants you mitigation and reason and that you are an Australian. So as far as the rest of the community is concerned you don't have to prove that and we'll support you until all the kangaroos all come home.
Shame Howard, shame on you!
Not your ABC
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Doorstop Interview
20.02.2007 20:51
Tony Burke: If we are ever going to be given an example of how the Department of Immigration has become a turnstile of incompetence we've been given it today. They have spent money deporting Robert Jovicic. They have spent money housing him in Serbia. They have spent money sending experts back and forth. They have then spent money to return Robert Jovicic to Australia only to now, that he is here, ask him to apply for Serbian citizenship. Let's make it clear, Robert Jovicic has been in Australia since the age of two. He's now approaching the age of 40. He has not been a good member of the community, but he is undeniably Australia's responsibility. There is no doubt about that at all. He is Australia's responsibility.
What the Government should be doing is allowing him to apply for Australian citizenship and get on with life. There's no end of mistakes he's made in life and we shouldn't cover over that. But it is still the case that sometime you just have to take responsibility. That's not something that Amanda Vanstone has been particularly good at. But the wastage of public money while there's indecision going on in the Department of Immigration cannot go on. He has been here since the age of two. He's not an Australian citizen but undeniably he is Australian.
Philip Ruddock always wanted to prove that he was tough on refugees. For reasons I don't understand, Amanda Vanstone has decided that she needs to prove that she's tough on Australians. This sort of incompetence can't continue.
Journalist: Do you think it's reasonable that the Federal Government continues further-they are saying they will only give the temporary visa because they want to do further inquiries, do you think that is reasonable?
Tony Burke: To conduct further inquiries is not an unreasonable thing. But to ask him to be applying for Serbian citizenship is insane. He's had no links with Serbia throughout his life. He doesn't speak Serbian. The fact that he can be a Serbian citizen is simply an accident of history. He's been here since the age of two and the Government should simply face the realities and allow him to get on with his life and not allow the uncertainties to continue or allow an end point where he could finish up being stateless.
Journalist: Is there any reason in your mind why the Government would have taken this decision?
Tony Burke: I don't think the Government knows why it's taken this decision. Each different path that this has followed has gone in a different direction. What I think we are seeing is incompetence and nothing short of it.
Journalist: Can you see any reason why he shouldn't be allowed to stay in Australia?
Tony Burke: The argument that comes up straight away is: Is it a good thing to have people who commit crimes in Australia and no it's not. And that is a reason why you can understand people being concerned that Robert is in Australia. But you still can't get over the fact the he's Australia's responsibility and that has to be the overwhelming argument.
Ralph