[2019] AATA 4259
General information, not legal advice.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia
2019-10-21
Emeritus Professor P
Original judgment source is linked above.
(4) The Minister may revoke the original decision if:
(a) the person makes representations in accordance with the invitation; and
(b) the Minister is satisfied:
- (i) that the person passes the character test (as defined by section 501); or
- (ii) that there is another reason why the original decision should be revoked.
36 Protection visas - criteria provided for by this Act
(1A) An applicant for a protection visa must satisfy:
(a) both of the criteria in subsections (1B) and (1C); and
(b) at least one of the criteria in subsection (2).
(1B) A criterion for a protection visa is that the applicant is not assessed by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to be directly or indirectly a risk to security (within the meaning of section 4 of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979).
(1C) A criterion for a protection visa is that the applicant is not a person whom the Minister considers, on reasonable grounds:
(a) is a danger to Australia's security; or
(b) having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, is a danger to the Australian community.
(2) A criterion for a protection visa is that the applicant for the visa is:
(aa) a non‑citizen in Australia (other than a non‑citizen mentioned in paragraph (a)) in respect of whom the Minister is satisfied Australia has protection obligations because the Minister has substantial grounds for believing that, as a necessary and foreseeable consequence of the non‑citizen being removed from Australia to a receiving country, there is a real risk that the non‑citizen will suffer significant harm; or
5M Particularly serious crime
For the purposes of the application of this Act and the regulations to a particular person, paragraph 36(1C)(b) has effect as if a reference in that paragraph to a particularly serious crime included a reference to a crime that consists of the commission of:
serious Australian offence means an offence against a law in force in Australia, where:
(a) the offence:
(i) involves violence against a person; or
(ii) is a serious drug offence; or
(iii) involves serious damage to property; or
(iv) is an offence against section 197A or 197B (offences relating to immigration detention); and
(b) the offence is punishable by:
- (i) imprisonment for life; or
- (ii) imprisonment for a fixed term of not less than 3 years; or
- (iii) imprisonment for a maximum term of not less than 3 years.
65 Decision to grant or refuse to grant visa
(1) Subject to sections 84 and 86, after considering a valid application for a visa, the Minister:
(a) if satisfied that:
- (i) the health criteria for it (if any) have been satisfied; and
- (ii) the other criteria for it prescribed by this Act or the regulations have been satisfied; and
- (iii) the grant of the visa is not prevented by section 40 (circumstances when granted), 91W (evidence of identity and bogus documents), 91WA (bogus documents and destroying identity documents), 91WB (applications for protection visas by members of same family unit), 500A (refusal or cancellation of temporary safe haven visas), 501 (special power to refuse or cancel) or any other provision of this Act or of any other law of the Commonwealth; and
- (iv) any amount of visa application charge payable in relation to the application has been paid;
(b) if not so satisfied, is to refuse to grant the visa.
Of course, the nature and circumstances of the conviction or convictions will generally be highly relevant to the question whether the person can be described as being a "danger". However, it is not conclusive. It is necessary to look at the person's conduct in the light of all the circumstances that have occurred up to the time of making the tribunal decision both before and after the period of the convictions.
In assessing the level of risk in a particular case, the circumstances surrounding the offence, the lifestyle of the offender, and the confidence which may be reposed in the evidence called by the offender are material. Oftentimes the circumstances deposed to will not be susceptible of verification, and much will depend upon the impression conveyed by the offender and his witnesses. (emphasis added)
Rehabilitation is never certain. One cannot predict of an offender that he will not fall again whatever the circumstances. The duty of the Tribunal is to apprehend what is the acceptable level of risk and to assess whether a particular applicant in the particular circumstances of his case is at an unacceptable level of risk.
In deciding the question, regard must be had to all the circumstances of each individual case.
Should the applicant be released back into the community at this juncture, I consider on reasonable grounds that the applicant will be a danger to the Australian community.
In reaching my conclusion, I have applied the WKCG test. I have also had regard to there not being a requirement to establish that there is a probability of a real and immediate danger of present harm, and that the provision is designed to protect the community from both immediate harm and harm in the reasonably foreseeable future.[11]
Referral has been made to the [a] Psych Service. [The applicant] will require monitoring of his medication and mental state, particularly in view of his poor insight and preference to cease medications. He will also require administration of zuctopenthixol decancate as noted above.
At one point the two men were facing each other and [the applicant] produced a knife, like a Swiss knife, with a blade of between 5 and 10 centimetres. [The applicant] demanded the phone and threatened to stab [the victim] if [he] did not comply. [The applicant] held the blade close to [the victim's] stomach. [The victim] offered [the applicant] cash instead of handing over the phone. [The applicant's] response was to grab [the victim], demand the phone and again threaten to stab him. [The applicant] then took [the victim's] phone and walked away.
[The victim] followed the offender and again asked for his phone. [The applicant] responded by repeating his threat to stab [the victim]. At this point, [the victim] stopped following the offender.
This led to the applicant's conviction for robbery while armed with an offensive weapon under s 97(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) for which he was given an indicative sentence of 2 years and 8 months' imprisonment.
[The victim] then ran towards [a] station. In his attempt to escape, his path was blocked by [the applicant]. When [the applicant] blocked [the victim's] path, the first man grabbed [the victim] by his left shoulder from behind. [The applicant] then grabbed [the victim] by his right shoulder.
[The victim] was by this stage very scared and was being held so tightly by the two offenders that he could not leave.
The first man then asked [the victim] why he was running and told him there was no need to be scared. Both offenders, however, then pushed [the victim] up against a brick wall. [The applicant] then placed his hand in [the victim's] pocket and took his wallet after which [the applicant] ran off. [The victim] tried to run after [the applicant] but was blocked by the first man who lifted his shirt and pointed to the handle of a gun on the left hand side of his waist. [The victim] on seeing this gun became terrified for his life and was extremely shaken.
This led to the applicant's conviction for robbery in company under s 97(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) for which he was indicatively sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment.
In my opinion, the most likely explanation of [the applicant's] involvement in the offences lies in a combination of two factors. The first, I suspect he was experiencing some form of uncontrolled manic episode whilst offending, and the second that he was associating with the likes of [X], [Y] and [Z], who took advantage of him for their own ends and influenced his behaviour. [The applicant] had poor judgment emanating from his mental illness and acceded to their demand that he provide mobile phones and accompany them whilst robbing. His irritability from his mania may have been a factor in his aggressive behaviour, including violent behaviour.
...I am not satisfied that on the balance of probabilities that there is a direct causal connection between the psychiatric condition and this offender's criminal offending. As a result considerations of specific deterrence remains significant. In stating this, I have not overlooked paragraph 75 of Mr Green's report.
Whilst the first cluster of offences (that is, the first to seventh inclusive) could be the subject of some form of uncontrolled manic episode, as speculated by Mr Green, I find it difficult to accept that the totality of the conduct spanning from late October 2012 to January 2014 without detailed reasoning to that effect, is capable of being so explained.
I left Afghanistan because my father got killed by Taliban, and we left - not only me. My whole family left, ... left Afghanistan. They - we got threat from Taliban that we have to live (indistinct) the area in the country and that otherwise we're going to get killed. They're going to come - come back to us. And when my father got killed, my father body was - came to my house and then I saw my dead father body and then the Taliban hit me with the butt of the gun. And then after that, we got threatened from Taliban that we have to leave the country or we have to leave the area. So - and then we come to Pakistan. After that, we come - [27]
Applicant: As I said, I had a mental issue at that time. I was not feeling well at that time. I stopped my medication at that time. Plus, I thought I'm feeling well, and I stopped my medication. I was unwell at that time. I was young at that time. Now, I'm grown up. Now I know what I'm doing. Now I know what's right and what's wrong. I learned my lesson now from my mistake and that's in my past. At that time, I was 16 years. Now I'm 23.
Counsel: I just ask because it - - -
Applicant: It's a big difference from back then until now. Now I'm 23. Now I learned my lesson. I don't think so I'll repeat my mistake - the same mistake again. At that time, I was only 16 years old. I was young and I done robbery and I was running around with a bad company and they teach me to do robbery and stuff.
Counsel: So, you were taking what appeared to be about six phones and then were you selling them or trading them to other people?
Applicant: Selling them, selling the phones, yes.
Counsel: Is that - so, were you getting money from selling the phones?
Applicant: I was - yes, I was getting money selling the phones, but I was not - I wasn't doing robbery to sell the phone and feed my family from that. I was selling for my own pocket money to spend somewhere, like I was in that - because I was unwell at that time. I was not well.[28]
Counsel: ..., did the bail conditions require him to live with you at that time?
Witness: So that condition was that he shouldn't any more committed any other crime an any crime and he went like without my awareness, I didn't know about that and he went out and he did, so I didn't know about that.
Counsel: Did you try and do anything to stop him from committing any further crimes?
Witness: Yes, as a mother I was, like I (indistinct) him that I told him, don't fight or don't do any crime and be careful that shouldn't do any crime, I told him.
Counsel: And why do you think that didn't work?
Witness: Because he had health problems and I didn't know about that.[29]
Counsel: did your brother's situation have anything to do with your choice of that?
MAH: Certainly, that was another thing that - at that particular moment that I was arrived in the middle of my HSC, basically in 2014, I was in my year 11. That was a time for me to select my career, like to what where am I going to go. And my brother's mental health had a big impact on me, that what am I going to do, so that interested me more to be involved in healthcare. So that led me to come in health and so I can help my family first, my brother, my mum, and also those around me.[31]
Counsel: And what do you do?
MAH: I'm a ... support worker at a disability organisation. I work with people with autism and Down syndrome, intellectual disability.
Counsel: Is that an NDIS?
MAH: Yes, it's NDIS support.
Counsel: I see. Now, I noticed you've been listening carefully to the evidence in this case?
MAH: Yes.
Counsel: And particularly, I guess, to Dr Pulley. Is that right? What do you intend to do if your brother is released into the community, for him?
MAH: Well, looking at my family I will be the first person to provide the most care for my brother.
Counsel: Yes?
MAH: I have to - if he was released to come, he would obviously live with us and then I will get in contact with the doctor, Dr Pulley, and - - -
Counsel: With Dr Pulley?
MAH: Yes. And then work on a plan for him. So obviously they will continue his medication and also decide on healthcare also develop on his social skills, because he's been away for this many years from the community. Build up, we have a social network in our Afghan community. So, I'll get him involved in that and also I'll look into employment. There is promised employment by one of our family friend as a - in a painting and they actually broke down that he doesn't have to start with professional painting, we can teach him based on his capabilities. Yes...[32]
[I]f I was assessing him to be released from a medium secure unit, or a high secure unit, to the community I would come to the conclusion that he poses no significant risk of endangerment to himself or others if he was to be released into the community and follow a reasonable management plan, I am of the opinion that he is more - very likely to follow a reasonable management and that he'll be - and that particularly reassured by the fact that his family will strongly encourage him to follow the same plan, and actually will have skills in - in speaking to someone with a mental illness and helping someone with a mental illness calm down and accept a good plan when they're wound up, you know.[33]
The applicant suffers from a grave and complex mental health condition that arguably is more difficult to identify and manage than PTSD, anxiety or depression disorders which are the prevalent mental health problems in Afghanistan.[35]
... Dr Nguy's impression was that, notwithstanding [the applicant's] background diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder, his presentation at that time was more consistent with maladaptive personality traits and pseudo hallucinations. Dr Nguy did not consider [the applicant] was then presenting with features of pervasive depressed mood or any active psychotic symptoms. He did however consider him an ongoing risk of deliberate self-harm. On review on the 2 March 2015, Dr Nguy's impression appears to have strengthened that [the applicant] had a borderline personality disorder with additional narcissistic traits and was then exhibiting pseudo hallucinations and poor coping strategies. He continued him on his mood stabilising and antipsychotic treatment. This remained Dr Nguy's impression on further comprehensive review on the 12 and 19 March 2015, he considered that [the applicant] had a very low frustration tolerance and that [the applicant's] maladaptive coping strategies were more prominent at the time of court appearances.
[The applicant] has a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder. This appears a conclusive one given his history of two psychiatric hospital admissions during which he exhibited obvious abnormal elevation of mood coupled with frank delusional beliefs of a persecutory and grandiose nature.
[The applicant] also has an uncorroborated history of severe, early developmental trauma suffered whilst in Afghanistan. He also did not receive any schooling and is a relatively recent refugee to Australia. His behaviour since his reception into custody suggests a regression to maladaptive coping strategies, including deliberate self-harming behaviours and non-compliance with recommended psychiatric treatments. His medical record tends to suggest his behaviour since his reception into custody has been dominated by these maladaptive personality traits and he does not appear to have suffered a further relapse of his bipolar affective disorder since coming into custody.[36]
[I]f the court is considering a non-custodial disposition, then I respectfully suggest he could be referred to his established community treatment team at [a] hospital under section 32 of the NSW Mental Health (Forensic provisions) Act. This order should include conditions he attend all appointments with his designated psychiatrist and case manager. He should also be compelled to comply with all recommended psychiatric medications including long acting injectable antipsychotic medications if these are deemed necessary.[37]
[T]here is no doubt that your client suffers from severe mental illness, specifically schizoaffective disorder. Your client experiences chronic fluctuating psychotic symptoms including auditory hallucinations that are commands, derogatory and persecutory in nature, thought disorder, persecutory delusions and grandiose delusions. There has been a psychosocial decline, in that your client was able to maintain employment for a period of six months prior to the onset of his mental illness. Your client also has experienced clearly documented, extended and pervasive periods of elevated moor and depressed mood.[38]
Throughout his imprisonment and detention, the applicant was involved in a series of security incidents - both as perpetrator and a victim. The list of incidents involving threats and actual violence is far too long to be reproduced in this decision record. It suffices to say that he assaulted detainees and inmates, threatened detention staff with violence and was assaulted by other detainees. He also displaced many instances of grandiose delusions such as claiming that his father is the 'kind of Australia' and that he is a 'millionaire' and that Donald Trump is father.[39]
Yes, like now all my family knows what's happening with my brother. Especially last year in 2018 when he was admitted to [a] hospital. We were actually more involved by the doctors about his care. Like they actually educate us more about his mental illness and about his medication. Even though I did Bachelor of Medicine, at that stage I had not studied my mental health units. I didn't have much knowledge as well. And that gave us more knowledge and opened my eyes and then I researched about it and my family - we understood his mental illness. And then I shared that with my family that what is he really going through and how important his medication is. Compared to back in the days when he committed this crime, I was young, so I was not even involved in anything. It was only my mum. My mum hasn't had any formal education. She didn't know - when he arrived from Western Australia, he came in a very, very bad state like, he was very like the medication had big side effect on him. He was - stiff neck, he was incontinent, he would walk from door to door, he was like very bad. And then we thought - and he told us that - back when he was in Western Australia he would call us and complain that these people are giving us - giving me every day injection. So we thought this injection is making him like this. Because we didn't have the knowledge about what's happening with him.[42]
40.1. In July 2017, the applicant was said to have stopped taking his medication for at least 3 months.
40.2. He was then said to have taken his medication 'sporadically' between July 2017 and September 2017.
40.3. [In] February 2018, the applicant was found completely naked and had been reportedly been refusing to take his medication for some time.
40.4. [In] March 2018, the applicant is reported as stating that he does not want injections and medications because he does not believe he is unwell.
40.5. [In] March 2018, he was reported as being compliant with his medications, but this was inconsistent with his medication chart which indicated that he had been refusing his morning dose of lithium ...
40.6. [In] June 2018, the applicant was initially refusing to take his injection because he felt better (ultimately he agreed to take it).
Other factors that may foster anti-social behaviour
I certify that the preceding 107 (one hundred and seven) paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for the decision herein of Deputy President B W Rayment OAM QC and Emeritus Professor P A Fairall, Senior Member
..............................[sgd]...............................
[1] Protection Visa Decision Record ("PVDR"): T2, pp 12 and 13.
[2] The sentencing remarks refer only to the killing of the applicant's father by the Taliban: T5, p 89. The PVDR refers to the applicant's claim that his father was killed by the Taliban and that he was hit with a rifle butt: T2, p 15.
[3] His mother told the delegate that she had mistakenly understated the age of each of her three children by two years during the off-shore visa processing: T2, p 13. The delegate declined to adjust the birthdate from 1996 to 1994 on the basis that the Freedom of Information section considered the information provided in the initial visa application.
[4] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 77.
[9] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 91.
[11] PVDR: T2, p 48, citing BHYK and Minister for immigration and Citizenship [2010] AATA 662.
[12] PVDR: T2, p 12. He may have been 16. It is not clear on the evidence.
[13] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 89.
[14] Forensic Report by Dr Elliott, 9 April 2015: T32, p 179.
[15] Bentley Hospital Inpatient Discharge Letter: T32, p 48.
[16] NSW Health, Mental Health Transfer/Discharge Summary: T32, p 49.
[17] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 77.
[18] Forensic Report by Dr Elliott, 9 April 2015: T32, p 179.
[19] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, pp 93 to 95.
[20] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 89.
[21] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, p 64
[22] See NDBR v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCA 1631 at [49]-[52].
[24] T32, p 178. It may be that when the docket judge was changed from Judge Sides (to whom the report is addressed) to Judge Colefax QC the report went astray. In rejecting the applicant's visa application, the Minister's delegate was also unable to find a copy of Dr Elliott's report: see T2, p 40 and 45.
[26] Sentencing comments, 16 April 2015: T5, pp 91 and 92.
[28] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 41.
[29] Transcript, 11 September 2019, pp 78 and 79.
[30] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 62.
[31] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 63.
[32] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 64.
[33] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 9.
[34] PVDR: T2, p 20, quoting from a report prepared by Dr Pulley.
[38] Report by Dr Rafe Pulley, 15 October 2018: T24, p 300.
[42] Transcript, 11 September 2019, p 66.
BCR16
Minister for Immigration and Border Prot
BCR16 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] FCAFC 96, (2017) 248 FCR 456
BHYK and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] AATA 662
DOB18 v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCAFC 63
MVLW and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] AATA 1557
NDBR v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCA 1631
SZOQQ v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] FCAFC 40
WKCG and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2009] AATA 512
(2017) 248 FCR 456
(2010) 240 CLR 611
(1996) 185 CLR 259
(2014) 226 FCR 555