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How one elderly couple made their big move to Italy

US couple Tony Smarrelli, 74, and his wife, Francine, 75, were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Venice, Italy when they decided to move to Italy for good. The Smarrelli's, who are retired elementary teachers from New York and both of Italian descent relocated to the picturesque coastal town of Scalea in southern Italy. “We were in St Mark’s Square (in Venice) when a quartet started playing (classic Italian song) Malafemmina,” Tony recalled the day they decided to make the big move. “It brought tears to my eyes, because my father would put on his Italian records every Sunday for dinner and would sing that song to my mother.” Looking to reconnect with their Italian roots, they purchased a 139 metre property with three bedrooms, a dining room and a walk-in-closet for for €150,000 ($A247,754) in November 2023. “We flew to Italy for the second time in 2023 and put an offer in for that home. We then secured our visas in the US in three hours, sold our home (in the US), packed up our belongings and flew back to Italy in December 2023,” Tony said. While their home in the peaceful coastal time was already livable when they bought it, the couple chose to renovate it, spending an extra €80,000 (about $A132,086) to retile the property, add a new plumbing and electric system, as well as two new bathrooms, an entire kitchen, doors, windows and screens. The property was renovated within four-months, and they said that a similar home in the US would have been nearly impossible for them to afford. “It would be easily $US1 ($A1.5) million to $2 million to live on a coast of South California or (a place with) any coastal views on the Eastern Seaboard,” Tony said. Tony's father and grandfather initially immigrated to the US in 1983 to make a better life for themselves, now 86 years later, Tony has returned to his homeland. “Some of my best friends said it takes a lot of guts to pick up and move to another country at 74 years of age. “I tell them it took guts for my father and grandfather to come to another country on a boat for eight weeks with no home, no work, very little money, no resources to make a better life for themselves,” Tony said. “In our modern world, it’s just a lifestyle change and for us, it was a good choice.” The couple said since their big move, they've cut back nearly y $3000 ($A4574) per month on expenses, which amounts to $36,000 ($A54,894) a year. The couple now spends about $1200 ($A1825) a month between the two of them. Back in the US, the couple's mortgage alone was $US1500 per month ($A2281) “Monthly expenses in the US before leaving were between $US4800 to $US5000 a month. In all we are about $US3000 less monthly living here in Italy,” Tony said. Tony plans to apply for an Italian citizenship, and while his father was naturalised as an American citizen before he was born, he plans to rectify this by appealing to a local court. Images: CNN

International Travel

"20 years to life": Bali's brutal new law

Major changers are coming into effect for foreigners in Bali. Indonesia's Department of Immigration has doubled down on its zero-tolerance approach to unruly tourists, as those found in breach of immigration laws or have overstayed their visas could be sentenced to life behind bars. Crimes that were previously punishable with sentences from six months to one year in prison are increasing to jail-time of up to 20 years, according to The Bali Sun. “Indonesia is a country that upholds the tourism sector, but comfort must be accompanied by order. We want foreign nationals who come to Indonesia to understand and follow the rules and norms that apply in this country,” Director General of Immigration Law and Human Rights Silmy Karim said, according to local newspaper Nusa Bali. “We also try to ensure that those who come are quality tourists, through strengthening intelligence co-operation and information exchange with other countries.” There will also be an increase in immigration checkpoint officers, patrol officers and investigators, and more mobile taskforces. The rules won't affect tourists who apply for temporary visas on arrival and leave with in the mandated 30-day period or extend their visa and leave within 60 days. The Indonesian government has recently cracked down on foreigners overstaying their welcome, deporting more than 400 people this year alone for violating immigration laws. Just last year, a dozen Australians were among more than 200 foreigners kicked out of Bali for abusing the visa system by doing illegal business or working in Bali. This follows the introduction of the tourist tax and the release of their tourist dos and don'ts list, as they attempt to monitor foreigners' activities. Image: AsiaTravel / Shutterstock.com

Legal

“Was I right?": Pauline Hanson repeats her call for halt on immigration

Pauline Hanson, the controversial leader of One Nation, has once again thrust immigration into the spotlight with her renewed calls to halt migration to Australia. Hanson, known for her divisive rhetoric, has resurrected her infamous claims from nearly three decades ago, asserting that Australia is being "swamped" by Asian immigrants. Hanson's resurgence on this issue coincides with the release of new figures revealing that Australia's migration intake has surged to a record high of 548,800 arrivals in the year leading up to September. These numbers pose a challenge to the government's efforts to manage immigration levels, prompting Hanson to call for a plebiscite to gauge public opinion on the matter. In her address to the Senate, Hanson harked back to her inaugural speech as the Oxley MP in 1996, where she first warned of being "swamped by Asians". “I was called a racist, of course, by the major parties and big media who are in lockstep of a big Australia,” Hanson said on Thursday morning. “But today, seven out of the top 10 source countries for immigration to Australia are in Asia - including four out of the top five - and the numbers are out of control. “Was I right? You’d never admit it. But yes, I am.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> On behalf of the majority of Australians, I demand a halt on immigration. For many, many years, the Australian people have been telling us to lower immigration. To keep the numbers low. To put the interests of Australians living here before the interests of foreigners who… <a href="https://t.co/VGwdRZGdXT">pic.twitter.com/VGwdRZGdXT</a> — Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/1770578663437955367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></blockquote> However, Hanson's push to curtail immigration was ultimately defeated, with opposition from other senators and parties. Nevertheless, the debate rages on, fuelled by concerns over housing shortages, strained infrastructure and environmental pressures. Opposition figures, including immigration spokesman Dan Tehan, criticise the government's handling of immigration, arguing that Labor's vision of a "Big Australia" is exacerbating existing challenges. They call for urgent action to address the housing crisis and alleviate the strain on public services. In response, the government has outlined plans to crack down on fraudulent visa applications and tighten regulations on higher education providers. Additionally, measures are being implemented to address loopholes in the visa system, such as the phenomenon of "ghost colleges". The government's migration strategy, unveiled in December, aims to achieve a significant reduction in net overseas migration by 2025. If successful, this would mark the largest decline in migration outside of extraordinary circumstances in Australia's history. As the debate unfolds, the nation grapples with fundamental questions about identity, diversity and sustainability. While politicians spar over policy solutions, the Australian public remains divided on the issue, reflecting broader societal tensions and anxieties about the future. Image: Twitter (X)

Legal

One last chance for grandma on the brink of deportation

Mary Ellis, 74, who has lived in Australia for the last 40 years and is facing deportation, has made a last-ditch bid to stay Down Under. The grandmother recently appeared on <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/grandma-faces-deportation-after-40-years-in-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a> and begged the Department of Home Affairs to let her stay in the country. At the time, she refuted the Home Affairs' claim that she had misrepresented her continuous residence in the country, after they alleged that she left Australia three times under an alias between 1983 and 1986, and that her late husband Martin Ellis was actually called Trevor Warren. The crucial qualification for an absorbed citizenship is that she would only be eligible if she was in Australia from April 2, 1984, and had not left the country since. The grandmother claimed that she arrived in Australia in December 1981, and hasn't left since, saying that she had also paid taxes in Australia, held a Medicare card, pension card and an Australian driver's licence. She was also nominated for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award last year, for her charitable acts. The DailyMail reports that there are no "compassionate grounds" on which the Immigration Minister could intervene in her bid to attain an absorbed citizenship. However, under the Migration Act, the minister could decide to intervene in Ellis' case if he thinks "it is in the public interest." Now, Ellis and her migration agent Schneider have requested in writing for the minister to intervene. Requests for Federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to intervene must address specific grounds in doing so, and state why her staying would be in the public interest. Images: Instagram/ Nine

Legal

Grandma faces deportation after 40 years in Australia

Mary Ellis, 74, has lived in Australia for over 40 years, but now she faces deportation. The grandmother is known as a local hero in northern New South Wales, for her charitable acts including helping feed the homeless in Tweed Heads, raising money for the Salvation Army. She was even nominated for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award last year. Despite her tireless efforts to help out other Australians, the senior might soon have to leave the country she has called home since she was 31-years-old. "(I have a) Driver's License, ID card, Medicare Card, Pension card. Everything Australians have," Ellis told A Current Affair. "I thought well, I'm a permanent resident. "You know, I carry on doing my daily - what I do every day. Nobody said anything." Ellis, who was born in London and moved here with her partner in 1981, was told that her partner had already arranged permanent visas for them. But one day, the Department of Home Affairs suddenly decided she's got to go. "This is my home and I love Australia ... I want to stay here," the grandma tearfully said. "Just let me get Australian citizenship, please let me.. that's what I want." Ellis has a son and two granddaughters in Australia, who are all Australian Citizens. Migration agent Stanley Schneider has been helping Ellis pro-bono since she was asked to leave, said that she was an absorbed person under the Migration Act and should be allowed to stay. "She's always paid her taxes.. she's never even had a speeding ticket," Schneider said. "She's never infringed anything. She's never offended anyone." The Migration Act requires someone to have been in Australia since April 2, 1984 and not have left, but the Department of Home Affairs claims Mary left the country three times under different aliases. Ellis denies the allegations. "I love Australia. (I) didn't want to go anywhere else," she said. She also said that she has documents that prove she was in Australia during the timeframe in question, which includes a job reference from a Tasmanian restaurant that she worked at from 1983 to 1986, and a Medicare enrolment letter signed by then federal Health Minister Neal Blewett. Ellis' migration agent said that the documents would not have been sent to her had she not been in the country. "Mary Ellis is a decent person. A person we should be absolutely thrilled to have in Australia," Schneider said. "And she's an Australian, Let's face it." In a statement shared to A Current Affair, the Department of Home Affairs said that they do not comment on individual cases. "People who do not have the right to remain in Australia are expected to depart," a government spokesperson said. "Individuals who provide incorrect information may be liable to have their visa cancelled under the provisions of the Migration Act." Image: Nine/ A Current Affair

Legal

Family faces expulsion from Australia due to daughter's learning difficulties

A Perth family is facing a heart-wrenching situation as they are compelled to leave Australia, their home for over seven years, due to their four-year-old daughter's learning difficulties. The local Perth community is rallying behind them in outrage against this decision. Navneet Kaur and her husband made the move from India to Australia on student visas back in February 2017. During their time in Australia, their daughter Iris was born. For Iris, Australia is the only home she has ever known. However, their situation took a painful turn when Navneet's application for a skilled nominated visa was rejected, citing Iris' diagnosed developmental delays. This decision meant that the family was instructed to depart from the country within a mere two weeks. Navneet Kaur expressed her disbelief, sharing that the government's justification was the projected cost of caring for Iris' needs over the next two years, estimated at $140,000. This reasoning, she argued, unfairly burdened their family. She underlined that both she and her husband have been gainfully employed, diligently paying taxes, and have not sought any government assistance. Navneet has taken on the financial responsibility for Iris' therapies and activities entirely on her own. Iris is actively engaged in activities such as swimming, gymnastics, private schooling and specialised therapies – all financed by Navneet. The family's friends and community members have spoken up in support, highlighting the unjustness of their situation. Owner Wes D'Arcy of Perth's Jarrah Bar and Café, where Navneet has worked as the head chef for nearly five years, described her as an integral part of their extended family. He expressed his frustration and deemed the government's decision as an insult to her hard work, especially in light of labor shortages in the sector: The emotional toll on Iris is also profound. Born in Australia, she identifies as Australian, yet her voice is being stifled as she faces displacement from her only known home. The prospect of relocating to India, a foreign culture she has never experienced, is daunting and unsettling. Navneet Kaur expressed the deep attachment her family has developed to Australia over seven years – an attachment that spans emotional, cultural, and environmental aspects of life. The unexpected expulsion is emotionally devastating. In response to the situation, community members have taken to social media to share their dismay and call for a compassionate resolution. The sentiment expressed is that a family so clearly contributing to the country, both economically and socially, should be treated with respect and fairness. “This is unacceptable," wrote one commenter on Facebook. "They are working, paying taxes and positively contributing to Australia. They deserve that respect in return from this country." Navneet Kaur is planning to appeal her case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in a last-ditch effort to remain in Australia with her family. The family's story is touching the hearts of many, shedding light on the complexities of immigration policies and the human lives they impact. Images: Facebook

Family & Pets

Minister steps in to stop deportation of family with Down syndrome son

A Perth family who were on the brink of deportation because of their son’s Down syndrome have been granted permanent residency after an intervention from Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Last month, the family from India were told to leave because their 10-year-old son’s condition was viewed as a “burden” on the taxpayers. Parent’s Krishna Aneesh and Aneesh Kollikkara begged the Immigration Minister to intervene, as their bridging visa was set to expire on March 15 and they had exhausted all other legal options. The family had been living in Australia for seven years, and on Wednesday they received the happy news through a letter from Giles. The letter read: "[The minister] has personally considered your case and has decided to exercise his public interest power in your case to substitute the decision of the [Administrative Appeals] Tribunal”. Aneesh and her husband spoke to reporters after the decision came out, and said they were “over the moon” when they found out. "I literally went into tears we can stay here we can live in this community we can provide a very good environment for our kids,” she said. Both parents work in highly-skilled industries, with Aneesh as a cyber security expert and Kollikkara working in telecommunications. People with Disability Australia treasurer Suresh Rajan, the family representative, said that their contribution to the society was taken into consideration in the intervention. "That public interest criteria goes to the fact that Krishna and Aneesh are performing work in critical industries and the public wants them here," he said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Letter received from Minister Giles office granting Permanent Residency to Krishna and Aneesh. Hallelujah! <a href="https://t.co/iYnWHrAZ0C">pic.twitter.com/iYnWHrAZ0C</a> — Suresh Rajan (@SureshRajan6) <a href="https://twitter.com/SureshRajan6/status/1633340769493999617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> Rajan also shared the development on the family’s case on Twitter. “Letter received from Minister Giles’ office granting permanent residency to Krishna and Aneesh. Hallelujah,” he captioned with a picture of the family. Image: Twitter

Caring

The immigration numbers bidding war is pointless – there are limits to how many migrants Australia can accept

Since late last year, various business lobby groups, the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/australia-needs-explosive-surge-of-2-million-migrants-20211011-p58z0n" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSW government</a>, management consultant <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/skilled-migrant-cap-stifles-economy-kpmg-analysis/news-story/dbeec35037ef1b117114bb8e6bdad394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KPMG</a>, the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/migration-boost-critical-to-recovery-business-council-20220217-p59xfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Council</a> and now a number of <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-we-open-up-lets-open-up-big-top-economists-say-we-need-more-migrants-177359" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economists</a> have been throwing numbers around, talking up the need for higher levels of immigration. I have written previously on the <a href="https://johnmenadue.com/australias-facile-immigration-policy-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facile nature</a> of the immigration debate in Australia, on the part of both the groups calling for “immigration to be cut wherever possible” and the groups calling for a bigger Australia. The problem is the debate focuses on targets and numbers for permanent migration, often confusing this permanent migration program with what matters for population which is net migration. At the same time, too little attention is paid to how migration targets would be delivered, the risks involved, and how the risks would be managed. So let’s start with basics. <h2>What matters is net migration</h2> The <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official migration program</a> reflects the number of permanent resident visas issued in any one year, irrespective of whether the person is already in Australia (perhaps for a long time on a different sort of visa) or has been living overseas. Over the past 15 years, more than half of these permanent resident visas have been issued to people who have already been living long-term in Australia. <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net migration</a> as calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is a measure of long-term and permanent arrivals, including new people issued these visas, less departures of people who have been living long-term in Australia and intend to remain overseas for 12 out of the next 16 months. It is blind to visa status or citizenship. Net migration can fall sharply even when the migration program is large, as happened in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2014-15</a> when we had one of the largest permanent migration programs in Australia’s history, yet net migration fell to 180,000. A sharp fall in net migration is usually associated with a weak labour market leading to large outflows of Australians, or Australians deciding not to return, as happened in 1975-76, 1982-83, 1991-92 and 2008-09. On the other hand, even when the migration program is being cut, net migration can be forecast to rise. This is what happened in the 2019 budget, when Treasury forecast the <a href="https://archive.budget.gov.au/2019-20/bp1/download/bp1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest</a> sustained level of net migration in our history, after a year in which the migration program was <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/plan-australias-future-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut</a> from 190,000 to 160,000 per year. <h2>How many migrants, and which ones?</h2> Before discussing the various immigration targets that have recently been proposed, it’s useful to understand the government’s current forecasts and how it intends to deliver them – something surprisingly few do. The 2021-22 program has been set at <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/plan-australias-future-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">160,000</a> per year. But Treasury’s 2021 Population Statement assumed to increase to <a href="https://population.gov.au/publications/statements/2021-population-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">190,000</a> per year from 2023-24. There is no official government commitment to this increase to 190,000 – and there probably won’t be ahead of the election. There has also been no indication of the composition of this larger program, or what might be needed to deliver it. Planning documents say the 2021-22 migration program will be <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">split evenly</a> between the family stream and the skill stream. This is because the government is at last clearing the very large <a href="https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/home-affairs-and-the-great-partner-visa-cover-up,14574" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlog</a> of partner applications it (unlawfully in my view) allowed to build up. If the planned 72,000 partner visas in 2021-22 are delivered, the government might only need to allocate around 50,000 places for partners in future years because it will have cleared much of the backlog it has allowed to build up, which will result in a future overall family stream of around 60,000. This means that to deliver its total program of 160,000 from 2022-23, the government will need an extra 22,000 skilled migrants, and from 2023-24 when the total program increases to 190,000, an extra 52,000 skilled migrants. The current skill stream planning level of 79,600 has four main components. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employer-sponsored migration</a>: 23,503</li> </ul> There is scope to boost the number of these visas by processing them faster. However, even with a very strong labour market, it is highly unlikely that demand would rise much above 35,000 per year, especially if a more robust minimum salary requirement and strong monitoring of compliance with employer obligations are re-introduced to minimise the risk of wage theft. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/business-innovation-and-investment-188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business innovation and investment</a>: 11,198</li> </ul> The passive investment subset of these visas, which provides visas to people who make a financial investment for a set period of time, is essentially a “<a href="https://johnmenadue.com/abul-rizvi-business-migration-should-focus-on-establishing-businesses-not-passive-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buy a visa</a>” scheme. It should be either abolished or modified to ensure active investment. I resisted establishment of the passive investment component until I left the department of immigration in 2007. Long-term, removing it would cut the number of business innovation and investment visas to around 5,000 per year. <ul> <li><a href="https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-folly-of-the-global-talent-independent-visa,14617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global talent independent</a> 9,584</li> </ul> This visa is highly susceptible to cronyism and corruption and attracts few migrants who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for other more robust visa categories. It should either be abolished or pared back to a few hundred per year for highly exceptional candidates. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/immigration-update-australian-states-open-skilled-visa-nomination-programs-for-2021-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State and government sponsored and regional</a> 27,853</li> </ul> While the labour market is strong, there would be merit in increasing the allocation of places for these visas, as state governments are well placed to understand the needs of their jurisdictions. But it is unlikely they would be able to fill more than an additional 10,000 places per year, given the occupational targeting and employment criteria they have in place. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skilled independent</a> 7,213</li> </ul> Once again, while the labour market is strong, there is scope to increase the size of this category, but there are also risks that would need to be managed. As these migrants have no confirmed job and face a four year wait for access to social security, diluting criteria for this visa to increase the numbers would mean a rising portion would struggle to secure a skilled job. Those with options may leave to another country where job prospects are stronger. Others would be forced to take whatever job they can, including at exploitative wages. In my experience, increasing the size of this visa category to more than around 25,000 would involve substantial risks, especially if the labour market weakens once current stimulus measures are removed. <h2>190,000 won’t be easy to deliver</h2> In total, what I foresee gives us a skill stream of around 100,000. Together with a family stream of 60,000, that provides only enough to fill the existing program of 160,000 per year – not enough to increase it to the 190,000 proposed by Treasury or the 220,000 proposed by the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/migration-boost-critical-to-recovery-business-council-20220217-p59xfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Council of Australia</a>. Those proposing much higher levels of immigration need to demonstrate how they would be delivered and how the risks of what might be a weaker labour market would be managed. And they need to acknowledge that the size of the migration program doesn’t determine net migration. That’s in large measure determined by the economy and how many Australians and migrants decide to leave, decide to stay overseas, or decide to return. This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

Travel Trouble

Djokovic escorted out of Australia

Images: Getty An “extremely disappointed” Novak Djokovic has been deported from Australia after last-ditch efforts to challenge a decision to cancel his visa failed. The World No.1 was seen being escorted by Australian Federal Police officers onto an Emirates flight to Dubai which left Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport at 10:30 on Sunday night. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846842/new-project-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5c3b8412f9ea44809da47b413d370bcd" /> The dramatic moment brings to an end an 11-day saga that captured the attention of the world and threw the Australian Open into chaos. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846841/new-project.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1b4e5e9c88234743820b896faa6a0664" /> The grand slam starts today without Djokovic, who is at risk of losing his world No.1 ranking to either Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev should one of them win the tournament. Djokvoic had promised he would leave the country as soon as possible in a statement released after a three-judge panel of the Federal Court ruled unanimously against him. “I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling,” Djokovic wrote on Sunday. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country. “I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love.” A three-judge panel ruled unanimously against Djokovic in a full court judicial review of Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel his visa. The 34-year-old, who now also faces a potential three-year ban on re-entering Australia, was ordered to pay all legal costs incurred by the government. The judges did not provide reasons for their decisions but said they would do so in the coming days. The decision came after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had cancelled Djokovic’s visa for a second time on Friday, citing a risk to public health and the chance the unvaccinated star’s presence in Australia could excite anti-vaccination sentiment. “Australia’s strong border protection policies have kept us safe during the pandemic,” Mr Hawke said in a statement after the court decision. “Strong border protection policies are also fundamental to safe-guarding Australia’s social cohesion which continues to strengthen despite the pandemic.” Chief Justice James Allsop said the court ruling was based on the lawfulness and legality of the minister’s decision in the context of the rounds of appeal lodged by Djokovic’s legal team. “It is no part of the function of the court to decide upon the merits or wisdom of the decision,” he explained. Under Australia’s Migration Act, certain deported people are unable to be granted a visa while offshore for a period of three years, meaning Djokovic could be barred from playing in the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens as well. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews told Sunrise the harsh penalty can be waived in certain situations, including compelling circumstances that affect the interests of Australia, or compassionate circumstances that affect the interests of an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

News

New visa twist as more Novak accusations emerge

After the decision to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa was overturned in Federal Court on Monday, the Serbian tennis champ is still at risk of being deported ahead of the Australian Open. Questions are now being asked about the information Novak provided on his Australia Travel Declaration form, as Australian Border Force officials are investigating if he lied on the document. Djokovic is facing allegations of traveling from his native Serbia to Spain in the 14 days before he flew to Australia last week. In his Travel Declaration form, the tennis champ ticked a box saying he has not travelled, and was not planning to travel, in the fortnight before his trip to Melbourne. A statement on the form reads, “Note: Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence. You may also be liable to a civil penalty for giving false or misleading information.” Djokovic flew from Spain to Dubai on January 4th, then boarded a flight from Dubai to Melbourne on January 5th. Following social media posts of Novak appearing to be in the Serbian capital of Belgrade over Christmas, multiple reports from international media outlets claim that Novak was in fact in Spain in early January to prepare for the Australian Open, which begins next week. On January 4, the <a rel="noopener" href="https://tennishead.net/its-disappointing-declares-two-time-slam-finalist-on-novak-djokovic-uncertainty/" target="_blank" class="body-link">Tennis Head </a>website reported: “Djokovic is still training in Marbella, Spain on the same surface and with the official balls for the Australian Open.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We can confirm <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> is ready for <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianOpen</a> if possible! <a href="https://t.co/q9WJFzBU41">pic.twitter.com/q9WJFzBU41</a> — SotoTennis Academy (@SotoTennis) <a href="https://twitter.com/SotoTennis/status/1476898807795392527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2021</a></blockquote> On Monday night, a spokesman for Federal Immigration Alex Hawke said “it remains within (his) ... discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C (3) of the Migration Act”. “The Minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing,” the spokesman said. Government lawyer Christopher Tran said that if the Immigration Minister chooses to exercise his "personal power of cancellation", Novak would be unable to return to Australia for three years. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Australian model lands herself in hot water again

A Sudanese-Australian model who narrowly avoided jail time in the US after a drunken rampage on a flight, has been arrested again and this time - has been sitting in an immigration detention center since September. Adau Mornyang, 25, reportedly attacked a male flight attendant, called his colleague a “white trash b” and hit an air host when she was cut off from drinking on a United Airlines flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles in January. The model faced 21 years in jail after being found guilty of assault in March, but narrowly escaped with 100 hours of community service and three years probation. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTLT5V0BgvO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTLT5V0BgvO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Pageant Times (@pageanttimes)</a> on Apr 21, 2017 at 10:58pm PDT </div> </blockquote> However it has been revealed Mornyang had been arrested on September 17 by US immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a surprise ambush. “Adau was shocked, since she knew she never entered the United States illegally nor overstayed her visa,” her sister Maria wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover her legal costs. Maria said her sister entered the US with a valid 01 visa that expires on December 26, 2021. “She's not in the country illegally,” she wrote. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed the department is assisting an Australian being held in US detention. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in the US. Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment,” a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. The GoFundMe page claims ICE agents revoked Mornyang's visa without telling her as pay back for her avoiding a prison sentence. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQMivNDshw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQMivNDshw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Black Pageant Queens (@blackpageantqueens)</a> on May 18, 2017 at 5:01pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “This no-jail outcome must've infuriated ICE officials who proceeded (without Adau's knowledge) to revoke her valid visa and subsequently arrested her for being in the country illegally,” Maria wrote. ' “Meanwhile, a judge never ordered that Adau should leave the country. My sister has been in jail for over two months, she's not been given any trial since arrest by ICE nor found guilty of overstaying her visa, just kept in jail indefinitely. “Adau expected that she was going to be deported after her arrest on September 17, 2019 - that didn't happen either.” The 25-year-old, who was born in South Sudan before moving to Australia as a refugee when she was 10, was convicted of felony interference with a flight crew and misdemeanour assault. She was acquitted of a third count of assaulting an air marshal. In March a jury heard Mornyang ordered “several glasses of wine” on the January 21 United Airlines flight. Passengers complained to staff about Mornyang's behaviour around nine hours into the flight. “When the flight attendant approached to assess the situation, Mornyang began to shout at the flight attendant and then slapped him across his face,” the court heard. After she was reportedly cut off from drinking more, she yelled obscenities, struck a flight attendant, had to be handcuffed by an air marshal, refused to leave a toilet and had to be held at the rear of the plane. The flight attendant said he was so shocked after he was assaulted he “could not physically do anything except sit for nearly half an hour to process what had happened to him”. Prosecutors said air marshals had to come out from undercover to help deal with her. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUik6LPlibU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUik6LPlibU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Adau M (@themodeladau)</a> on May 25, 2017 at 8:20pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The former Miss Australia finalist claimed to have no recollection of the commotion. “All I remember was waking up after sleeping for eight hours,” she said in a text message after the incident occurred. The models claims to have mixed two glasses of wine with prescription pills to help her sleep, but flight attendants say it was closer to five or six glasses before she had to be cut off. Mornyang said she “was so confused and begging and pleading for them to tell me what I did. “I was ignored, I was in and out of consciousness, and was later locked up in federal prison still with no memory of what I was arrested for. “This whole alleged slapping is a big shock to me and I cry every night wondering why I have no memory of it. How I could of done it while asleep,” she said. In March, a Los Angeles jury found Mornyang guilty of a felony charge of interference with a flight crew member and a misdemeanour count of assault. Mornyang was required throughout her three-year probation to submit to drug tests and receive counselling for mental health issues. The model was previously a global campaign face for makeup giant Sephora and was a Miss World Victoria top eight state finalist in 2017. Mornyang arrived as a refugee to Australia when she was just ten and used her promising modelling career as a platform to become an outspoken advocate on social issues, particularly any plaguing South Sudanese communities.

Travel Trouble

How to cut queues at immigration – with maths

When going on holiday to a foreign country, there’s one part of the journey that everybody dreads: border control. Everyone has to have their passport checked by an immigration official when entering a new country – and even when leaving some – so queues are almost inevitable. At Heathrow airport – <a href="https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/32311/top-20-largest-airports-world-passenger-number/">one of the largest in the world</a> – many arriving passengers are <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-6030399/BA-boss-criticises-two-hour-queues-Heathrow-Airport-border-farce.html">experiencing waiting times</a> of up to two hours at passport control. Border control officials seek to manage these queues through staff rosters – and when there aren’t enough staff rostered on to meet the number of arriving passengers, then queues at passport control can become excessively long. Staff rostering presents what’s known in industry as an “optimisation problem”. It is used in hospitals for nurses, in call centres and even in schools, <a href="http://www.optimisationintherealworld.co.uk/2018/04/13/challenges-in-producing-a-staff-roster/">for playground supervision</a>. The main goals are typically to ensure that services are completed in a reasonable amount of time, and to reduce the cost of staff. But these two goals are often contradictory – since paying more staff usually leads to better service. And because of this contradiction, staff rostering can be a very difficult optimisation problem to solve. Meeting requirements To balance these two aspects of staff rostering, organisations or regulatory bodies typically impose “service requirements”, in the form of expected service times. At Heathrow airport, the <a href="https://www.heathrow.com/company/company-news-and-information/performance/airport-operations/border-force">service requirements</a> state that 95% of passengers should be processed at passport control within 25 minutes for EEA citizens and 45 minutes for everyone else. Unfortunately, the border force at Heathrow has been unable to meet the services requirements for non-EEA immigrants since February 2018. July saw the worst performance, with 24.5% of all passengers entering the UK through terminals three and four experiencing waiting times of more than 45 minutes at passport control. In <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/977533/british-airways-heathrow-airport-passport-control-queues-UK">June</a>, <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/991733/summer-holiday-travel-delay-Heathrow-airport-luton-airport-manchester-airport">July</a> and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-6030399/BA-boss-criticises-two-hour-queues-Heathrow-Airport-border-farce.html">August</a>, there have been reports of passengers waiting longer than two hours. Having lots of valid data is critical to making a good roster and reducing waiting times. The main components of staff rostering are modelling demand, scheduling days off and assigning staff to shifts or tasks. If the demand is known exactly in advance – for example, if the number of playground supervision tasks are the same every day throughout the school year – then staff rostering only needs to consider the last two components. In more dynamic environments, such as airport arrivals, demand modelling plays a crucial role in staff rostering. In an airport, the demand for passport control is directly related to the arrival times of aircraft, which can in turn be delayed. For example, in May 2015 only <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Flight-reliability/Datasets/Punctuality-data/Punctuality-statistics-2018/">75.93%</a> of flights arriving into Heathrow airport were on time. <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Flight-reliability/Datasets/Punctuality-data/Punctuality-statistics-2018/">Of the remaining flights</a>, 17% were delayed by less than an hour, and about 7% were delayed by longer. Since <a href="https://www.heathrow.com/company/company-news-and-information/company-information/facts-and-figures">94% of passengers</a> are international travellers, border control is massively affected by flight delays. Digging into the data One of the worst options, in regard to meeting service requirements, is to roster staff according to the scheduled arrival time of all flights. Although this would be relatively cheap, it ignores the fact that air travel is routinely subject to delays. A better way for border force to reduce delays at passport control is to roster staff so that the largest expected demand can be served within the set service requirements. Basically, this would mean opening as many booths at passport control as possible, at the busiest time for arrivals – taking into account any expected delays. But this is a very impractical and expensive solution, and there are limitations with respect to the number of available staff – especially since <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmhaff/421/42105.htm">border force is already struggling</a> with insufficient numbers of staff. Fortunately, there is lots and lots of data relating to air travel, which can be used to model demand more accurately, and roster staff and employ other available technologies accordingly. Historical records of flight arrivals, the number of EEA and non-EEA citizens arriving and the demand at passport control are all available. Through the use of statistical and data science techniques, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forecasting">forecasting</a>, a sophisticated model of demand at passport control can be developed. Performing staff rostering with such a demand model may be conservative, meaning a higher overall cost, but it will be more likely to fit with the reality of air transportation. Yet proper demand modelling can also highlight situations – periods of time when predominately EEA citizens are arriving – where automatic passport scanners could provide flexibility in rostering staff, and which could decrease costs. Given the excessive delays reported at Heathrow border control, we can only assume that there is significant limitations to the demand model currently being used for staff rostering. By making better use of statistical techniques and drawing on the large amount of data that is available, it’s possible to significantly reduce the waiting time for passport control – even when flights are delayed.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100988/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Stephen J Maher, EPSRC Research Fellow, Lancaster University. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-cut-queues-at-immigration-with-maths-100988" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

International Travel

Aussies being treated like "criminals" at US airports

Australians have shared horror stories of being interrogated at the US border and being stuck in limbo over visa applications due to the US immigration crackdown. Australians are finding it harder to visit and work in the US after President Donald Trump’s administration has tightened rules on granting visas to foreigners in a bid to increase border security. 32-year-old Brisbane compliance director, Jinda Baikham, said she felt “very violated” after being questioned at the US border in Hawaii for a visit to Iran years before. Jinda recently travelled to Hawaii for her fourth time with her mum, dad and three sisters. Jinda declared the Iranian trip on her visa waiver but when a customs officer saw the stamp on her passport, she was moved into a room and interrogated for three hours. “I was told nothing. I had to sit and watch an officer go through my entire phone at the counter for over an hour,” she told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/aussies-treated-like-criminals-at-us-border/news-story/d3748c9b67f4f9fcbc59a535e878a4bd" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Every now and then, he would ask who certain people were, like texts from my sister, and he commented that I have a lot of photos of my dog.” “After he went through everything on my phone, he decided there was nothing threatening on my phone against America.” Jinda was eventually allowed into the country but has said it is unlikely that she will return. “I felt very violated,” she said. Another Aussie, who wished to be known as Julie, said she was “traumatised” after attempting to enter the US with a valid J-1 visa but did not have a particular form that was needed. “You would’ve thought I was a criminal,” she told news.com.au. “I was whisked away to a separate holding area, whilst my partner was separated and cleared through customs to baggage collection, where I proceeded to sit for three hours, the first 2.5 of these with no explanation, interaction or any idea of what was going on.” “Post a 17-hour transit, this was considerably painful.” “Finally when someone called me through, I was yelled at for a good 10 to 15 minutes, asking where my form was (I had told them repeatedly) and that I needed to get someone from Australia to fax them one straight away, being 1 am Queensland time — and who owns a fax machine?” “Over-tired, overstressed, the tears started from me. Keep in mind, at this whole stage they were yelling — not just discussing like rational people.” “After being passed on [through customs], the result was I basically just needed to fill out a form with my personal details and send it back in before 30 days. I’m still slightly traumatised by the experience and, to be honest, post this trip I don’t think I will return to the US.” An Australian immigration lawyer based in the US, Zjantelle Cammisa Markel, said there is “more scrutiny than ever before” for Aussies who want to work in the US. She explained that US immigration and consulate staffers have been given increased powers to deny foreigners access to the country due to White House-sanctioned updates to the Foreign Affairs Manual, which guides the issuance of visas. The updates allow officials to refuse visas, if granting one would harm the US’s best interests. Ms Camissa Markel highlighted that the increased authority was commonly being applied if there was a suspicion that a foreigner was taking a job away from an American. She also said that there has been increased scrutiny for foreigners who want to change their visa statuses within the first three months of their trip. Visa holders who get a job or marry an American without telling an immigration official could be accused of lying on their application and deported. “If you do anything that’s inconsistent with your visa application within 90 days, it can be considered a misrepresentation,” Ms Cammisa Markel said. Immigration lawyers have urged Aussies to be vigilant with paperwork and transparent with their intentions when visiting the US.

International Travel

Dick Smith’s $1 million anti-immigration ad to divide the nation

Millionaire businessmen Dick Smith has launched a controversial $1 million anti-immigration advertising campaign, regarding the hazards of overpopulation. The commercials, which will start appearing on television screens around Australia from today onwards, will feature a voiceover from John Stanton, whose voice famously appeared in the Grim Reaper AIDS campaign from the 1980s. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U219eUIZ7Qo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Mr Smith explained the campaign in an interview with ABC Radio on Monday, arguing politicians had failed to properly address overpopulation risks associated with immigration. “It’s a frightening ad that shows what’s going to happen if we have endless population growth - it’s going to destroy Australia as we know it today,” Mr Smith said. “Every single Australian family has a population plan - they don’t have 20 children, they have the number of children they can give a good life to," he said. “But our politicians have no equivalent for the country.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NewsMackay%2Fvideos%2F1621898201156359%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Mr Smith is also launching a campaign to raise the company tax rate back to 45 per cent, and wants the tax details of the wealthiest Australians released to the public. “The trickle-down effect is a complete lie, the wealthy become wealthier the poor poorer." Mr Smith denied his new campaign was xenophobic, saying, “It’s nothing to do with racism.” What are your thoughts?

Legal

92-year-old British war hero set to be deported

A 92-year-old war veteran who has lived in Australia for over a decade is set to be deported to Britain after his visa was denied because his health issues would be a financial burden on the taxpayer, the Sydney Morning Herald report. James Bradley, 92, who served in the British Royal Navy during World War II, moved to Australia with his wife Peggie, 91, in 2007 to be close to his family and his grandchildren. The couple passed their mandatory health test when they first arrived and were place in the long queue for permanent parent visas. However, seven years later James was required to undertake another health test, which he failed. He is suffering the early stages of dementia and is wheelchair-bound. <img width="440" height="273" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/19/23/3E7181D000000578-4329758-image-m-5_1489966531228.jpg" alt="Suffering from the early stages of dementia and confined to a wheelchair - Mr Bradley's condition is now deemed likely to 'result in a significant cost to the Australian community' and his visa has been denied" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-ddc1b08c19f5d05"/> The couple’s visa was denied as James’ health issues have been deemed to “result in a significant cost” to the health system. "Considering my background, I think I've been treated shabbily," James told the publication. "I've waited in a queue for permanent residency for 10 years, only to be rejected. I'd like to be able to spend whatever time I've got left here in Australia with my family." Despite being in good health Peggie’s visa has also been rejected as the couple came to Australia on a joint ticket. "Although we're old, we do play a part," said Peggie, who picks up her nine-year-old granddaughter Karis from school most days. "We can't believe that anyone knowing our history would have grounds for rejecting us." <img width="443" height="258" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/19/23/3E7181DF00000578-4329758-image-m-13_1489967058884.jpg" alt="A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said Mr and Mrs Bradley's appeal is being considered" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-42f452b8fc7e1ad1"/> Speaking to Ten, Peggie begged the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to overturn the decision. “Have a heart – allow him to stay,” Peggie said. “He served his country during the war. Not just for Britain but for Australia and for all humanity and mankind.” The couple’s daughter, Sharon Bradley-Town, says her father “could not survive deportation”. "Every day, the uncertainty around their immigration status weighs on dad's bent shoulders like the heaviest of invisible sacks," Sharon wrote in a letter to Dutton. "He worries terribly about what will happen to him and to Peggie ... when he is gone. He could not survive deportation."

Retirement Life

How to get off the plane and through immigration in 12 minutes

Airport organisation is something of an art form, and like everything, practice makes perfect. Knowing when to pull documents out of your bag, when to put them back, taking advantage of people movers and leaving your phone tightly secure in your bag will help you to make it through the arrivals gate fast, with belongings and sanity still intact. So, the planes landed, and the lights in the cabin have flickered on. Here we go; Step 1: Be prepared Ensure you have everything ready to go, so you’re not one of those people fumbling around in the aisle, stuffing their books and customs papers into your carry-on. You should already have everything conveniently placed in your bags, and any bags in the overhead locker should have been check on so as to manoeuvre them into an easy-to-grab position. Step 2: Keep important items close Make sure your custom card and passport are either in your pocket, your hand, or an extremely accessible compartment of your handbag. Step 3: Be a little pushier than usual No one likes those obnoxious people that push their way to the front of the cabin before the door is even open. However, a lot of us are overly polite on airplanes and wait unnecessarily for others. If you see potential to get stuck behind a family of seven children with about 42 carry-on bags, it’s okay to be a little assertive. Step 4: Power walk! Don’t linger on the ramp for the rest of your group as it disrupts the flow of traffic. Walk as fast as is comfortable for you, keeping to the left hand side of the ramp. If your partner is a little held up behind aforementioned family of seven, and they don’t need your assistance walking, wait for them outside the gate. Also, don’t make any calls or even pull out your phone at this point-it will only slow you down. Step 5: Don’t go to the bathroom unless it’s an emergency Think about it, the bathrooms on this side of customs are going to not only be a lot busier, but a lot dirtier. If you can, wait till you’ve gone through. If you’re someone with a small bladder, make going to the bathroom a part of your pre-landing routine. Step 6: People movers Travelators and escalators are there to make your life easier. If you want an extra speed boost or just need a rest, jump on all of these you can. Step 7: Be alert Once you join the queue for the immigration line, pay attention to what the expeditor tells you. Have your papers ready. Don’t have your cell phone out. Take off your hat. Open your passport to the page with your photo and present it to the immigration officer already open. If you have a visa you have to present upon entry, flag that page with a sticky note so it’s easy for the officer to find. Do you have any tips for getting through immigration fast? Let us know in the comments section below. Related links: <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/05/aerial-tour-of-beautiful-flower-field-in-the-netherlands/">Aerial tour of beautiful flower field in the Netherlands</a> <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/05/10-gorgeous-photos-from-seaside-towns-in-italy/">10 gorgeous photos from seaside towns in Italy</a> <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/05/10-breathtaking-photos-new-zealand-beautiful-roads/">10 breathtaking photos of New Zealand’s beautiful roads</a>

International Travel

Easter airport strikes to affect travel plans

Travellers have been warned to expect lengthy delays as a result of strikes from Customs and Border Protection staff at airports and cruise terminals around Australia. The Community and Public Sector Union is asking members, who are employees of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, to participate in <a href="https://www.border.gov.au/News/Pages/travellers-clients.aspx" target="_blank">protected industrial action at various international airports</a> from 22 March 2016. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection says, “While the likely level of participation is unknown, we strongly encourage airline and cruise ship passengers to plan for potential delays by arriving at international airports and cruise ship terminals even earlier over the next few weeks.” “The Department is working closely with stakeholders to minimise the impact on the travelling public, cargo and mail operations,” the Department adds in a statement. Industrial action commenced yesterday, and will continue over the Easter Long weekend with actions scheduled right up until the 4 April. To view the planned strike schedule <a href="https://www.border.gov.au/News/Pages/travellers-clients.aspx" target="_blank">click here</a>. Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=content&utm_content=link1&utm_campaign=travel-insurance">Click here to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance.</a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/02/photo-shows-german-shepherd-enjoying-flight/">German Shepherd really enjoys plane ride</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/funny-way-to-avoid-losing-luggage/">One man’s genius way to avoid losing your luggage</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/random-act-of-airport-kindness/">Stranger buys stranded traveller a flight to see her dying mother</a>

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Easter airport strikes to affect travel plans

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