A total of 30 New Zealand citizens have been removed from Australia this week on two charter flights, one from Perth and another from Sydney, after their visas were cancelled on character grounds.
Among the group was a known bikie associate who violently assaulted a Queensland Police officer.
Mr Hylton King, a known associate of the Mongrel Mob outlaw motorcycle club gang (OMCG), has a history of violence including his conviction for police assault in Brisbane.
Also removed was Mr John Webster, who had been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for indecent assault of a child under 12 years. Both men were removed from Sydney.
Of the others removed, convictions included possession of dangerous drugs, persistent exploitation of a child, contravention of domestic violence order, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, aggravated robbery, assault officer in execution of duty, kidnapping and unlawful use of motor vehicles.
ABF Commander Field Operations, Ben Biddington, said the removal of these people to New Zealand highlighted the Australian Border Force's continued resolve to remove non-citizens who pose a threat to the Australian community.
"Non-citizens who have been found not to satisfy the character test are not entitled to remain in Australia" Commander Biddington said.
The Australian Government is responsible for protecting the community from the risk of harm arising from foreign nationals who choose to engage in criminal activity. The majority of those removed had their visas cancelled under s501 of the Migration Act.
"Since the rules around mandatory visa cancellation were strengthened in December 2014, a total of 2926 New Zealand citizens have had their visas cancelled," Commander Biddington said.
There are provisions under the Migration Act 1958 that allow the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel a visa if a person is considered to not be of good character. A person can fail the character test for a number of reasons, including but not limited to circumstances where a non-citizen has a substantial criminal record.
The two flights departed on 4 August 2020 from Perth and 5 August 2020 from Sydney.
