Blitz to deport criminals

AN unprecedented blitz on foreign-born criminals has seen 2847 of them ordered out of Australia since December 2014.

The co-ordinated effort is being driven by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s determination to rid the nation of as many criminals as possible who are not Australian citizens.

Figures reveal the 2847 killers, crooks and creeps ordered out of Australia in the past three years include: 1115 THUGS convicted of assaults, grievous bodily harm and other crimes of violence. 455 DRUG traffickers and dealers.

223 SEX creeps convicted of paedophile offences and possession of child pornography. ●114 PERVERTS convicted of rape and other sex offences against adults. 54 MURDERERS and 21 people convicted of manslaughter.

24 PEOPLE whose visas were cancelled on national security or organised crime grounds.

841 OFFENDERS charged with white collar and other crimes.

Outlaw motorcycle clubs are also being severely disrupted as the zero tolerance police and intelligence agency blitz targets gang officer holders, with 147 senior bikies having had their visas cancelled in the past three years.

“We aren’t asking much – just that visitors to our country don’t kill, rape or rob Australians during their stay,” Mr Dutton said yesterday. “If they do they’re out. Let the civil libertarians argue against that.

“I have no doubt that by deporting convicted paedophiles we are saving children from being future victims.

“The same goes for rapists and drug dealers.

“Criminal motorcycle gang members don’t have jobs or pay taxes – they sell drugs, run prostitutes, steal, extort and kill.

“Why would we want them living among law abiding decent people?”

Under changes to migration laws in December 2014, Mr Dutton now has greater powers to cancel the visas of foreign born people who fail to meet minimum character standards, or who have been convicted of an offence involving a jail term of more than 12 months.

Being a member or associate of an organisation reasonably suspected of being involved in crime is sufficient for Mr Dutton to cancel a visa for failure to meet character standards.

Not all 2847 foreign-born criminals ordered out of Australia have left yet as many have lodged appeals against their deportation orders.

Former Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Chris Dawson yesterday said the tactic of singling out bikie gang officer holders had been highly effective.

Mr Dawson said Australian bikie gangs are increasingly establishing chapters overseas to avoid “attention and apprehension” by Australian authorities.