A " One Way" deal !

Many citizens will be angered by a decision reached by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on our deportation rights.   Fortunately this is non binding - and Australia chooses to ignore the ruling.

The case concerns a person who migrated here from Sweden when he was just twenty-seven days old.   He never bothered to take out Australian citizenship, and now - thirty six years later - we have deported him back to Sweden because of a long criminal history.

The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that despite this deportation being consistent with international law, we must bend the rules and take him back !

It seems to many that the UN attitude to citizenship seems to be a " one way " deal, with all the rights conferred onto the deportee - and none available to Australia.

The reason this man was deported was because he chose to live a life of crime. His rap sheet includes the rape of a ten year old boy and over eighty other offences, ranging from arson,  armed robbery, theft and drug offences.    Surely these provide a valid reason for the deportation ?

We accept that as a nation we are stuck with those criminals that were born in this country.  That confers immediate citizenship status, but those that choose to come here and do not bother to apply and receive legal citizenship status have no such protection.

This also raises the question of " mutual obligations " !

When we offer citizenship to an immigrant we - as a nation - promise all the rights and benefits that apply to our naturally born citizens, and the applicant makes a sworn declaration to obey the laws of this country.
How often do we find that - having been granted citizenship - the new citizen breaks that oath and refuses to submit to our laws and instead claims that his or her religious laws take precedence ?

Once again, this " one way deal " thinking comes into force.   The oath of obedience to our laws is dismissed by the United Nations but the rights of the person having citizenship is upheld.   Surely justice demands that both parties meet their obligations ?

Maybe it's time for a " new deal " !     Citizenship to be granted on a " provisional " basis - subject to clearly stated " mutual obligations " !