Athlete bond an option

MORE than 80 per cent of Gold Coasters who responded to a Bulletin online poll yesterday agree with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s calls for a bond to be paid to Commonwealth or Olympic Games host nations in case their athletes flee and seek asylum.

It has been revealed 255 athletes and officials who attended the Commonwealth Games have failed to leave the country despite their visas running out on May 15.

Speaking to Ray Hadley on 2GB yesterday, Dutton said his department had been criticised prior to the Games for the length of time taken to scrutinise some visa applications.

“In some cases we refused to issue visas and looked at the bona fides of some individuals and decided we’re not going to let them come,” Mr Dutton said. “There are about 13,600 visas issued first up. It’s an annoying transaction cost of forming a Games or having an event, particularly where you’ve got some Commonwealth countries that are poorer nations coming here.”

Mr Dutton said more needed to be done through Games organising committees to ensure the onus fell on the countries vouching for their athletes, officials, managers, trainers and media staff.

“If they’re not prepared to vouch for them, maybe they need to put up a bond. We’re going to have a look at different ways in which you can do it. But in the end they’re difficult decisions,” he said.

He was thankful, to his knowledge, that none of the individuals had committed criminal offences

Of the 255 seeking asylum 190 have sought protection visas, 15 have applied for other visas and 50 are here illegally.