[Greens-Media] Vanstone must explain her Department's use of false documents

[Lawson, Damien (Sen K. Nettle)]

30.03.05

Vanstone must explain her Department's use of false documents

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle called on Senator Vanstone to explain
whether her department used false documents to deport a man to Cameroon.

"The Australian public need to know if the Department of Immigration is
using false documents to deport people.

"We need to know what the department did with the information supplied
by the French Embassy about the man's fake identity.  When was the
department informed?  Was the man's identity investigated?  Why did the
department deport a man on a passport they knew carried a false name?

"The Minister must explain what procedures are followed by her
department when there is doubt about the authenticity of travel and
identity documents. Were these procedures followed in the case of 'Mr
Kingue'?

"The Edmund Rice Centre report Deporting to Danger (September 2004)
contained multiple allegations that the Department of Immigration
allowed asylum seekers to be deported on false documents and knowingly
removed people to countries where their status would not be legal.

"The Minister must explain whether the use of false documents during
deportations is part of the Department of Immigration's standard
operating procedure," concluded Senator Nettle.

Contact: Damien Lawson: 0419 253 342


Damien Lawson

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Office of Greens Senator Kerry Nettle
Tel: 02 9690 2038 Fax: 02 9690 2041 
Mobile: 0419 253 342
111-117 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010 NSW www.kerrynettle.org.au