Man Told He Must Apply To Be A Serb
The Age
Tuesday February 6, 2007
STATELESS man Robert Jovicic has been told he must apply for Serbian citizenship if he wants to continue living in Australia.
New Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews yesterday set Jovicic a deadline of two weeks to apply for citizenship to Serbia, the country he left aged 2, or face being detained again.However, Mr Andrews assured him that if he complied and and was granted citizenship "he will not be considered for removal unless he is found guilty of committing further criminal offences".This would be the equivalent of a good behaviour bond, he said. The offer was a bid to break the stalemate over Mr Jovicic's statelessness.Mr Jovicic, 42, was brought back to Australia nearly a year ago on compassionate grounds, claiming he had been left destitute and stateless after being deported to Serbia in June 2004.Although he had lived in Australia most of his life, former immigration minister Amanda Vanstone cancelled his residency visa on character grounds after he was convicted of a string of heroin-fuelled crimes.Jovicic's initial reaction yesterday was to continue his refusal to apply for Serbian citizenship. He was said to be "gutted" by Mr Andrews' decision.Greens immigration spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle accused the Government of continuing to bully Mr Jovicic."The minister should grant Mr Jovicic a permanent visa and allow him to get on with his life," she said.Mr Andrews defended his action. "This represents a practical and fair outcome which affords appropriate protection to the Australian community."If Mr Jovicic met his terms, he would then decide what type of visa to issue him with, he said.Mr Jovicic, who has a sister in Sydney, was able to be deported because he had never taken out Australian citizenship. He was deported to a country where he was not a citizen because although his parents were Serbian, he was born in France.He was unable to claim welfare entitlements and had no relatives to turn to.Since his return in a wheelchair last March, on a special purpose visa, Mr Jovicic has been on temporary visas. His current one expired last night.The decision to discontinue his temporary visa renewals is the first major decision by the newly appointed Mr Andrews.Mr Jovicic was advised yesterday afternoon that he will be locked up in Villawood Detention Centre if he does not apply for Serbian citizenship within 14 days, his spokesman, Ross Waraker, said.At this stage Mr Jovicic did not intend to apply for Serbian citizenship, saying that swearing allegiance to another country when he was trying to remain in Australia would send the wrong message, he said. Mr Jovicic has been working for a roller door installation company and rebuilding his life.
© 2007 The Age