Decision of the Tribunal
8 The Tribunal's reasons were under the headings "Character Test", "Ministerial Direction" and "Other Considerations".
9 Under "Character Test", the Tribunal referred to s 501(6)(a) and s 501(7)(c) of the Migration Act, and observed:
[6] … As the applicant was sentenced to one year period of imprisonment, he has a substantial criminal record under s 501(7)(c) of the Act.
10 The Tribunal gave more extensive consideration to the topic "Ministerial Direction". It observed that s 499 of the Migration Act empowered the Minister to give written directions about the performance of functions and the exercise of powers under the Migration Act, and that the effect of this section was that the Tribunal was required to comply with Ministerial Direction No 65 (Visa refusal and cancellation under section 501 and revocation of a mandatory cancellation of a visa under s501CA) (Direction 65). The Tribunal noted that Direction 65 commenced operation on 22 December 2014, and was in force at the time of the Tribunal's decision.
11 The Tribunal examined Direction 65, referring to the seven principles in the Preamble providing the framework within which decision-makers should approach their specific task. The Tribunal then observed:
10. Paragraph 8 of the Direction provides:
...
(2) In applying the considerations (both primary and other), information and evidence from independent and authoritative sources should be given appropriate weight.
(3) Both primary and other considerations may weigh in favour of, or against, refusal, cancellation of the visa, or whether or not to revoke a mandatory cancellation of a visa.
(4) Primary considerations should generally be given greater weight than the other considerations.
(5) One or more primary considerations may outweigh other primary considerations.
11. In deciding whether to revoke the mandatory cancellation of the applicant's visa, paragraph 13(2) of the Direction provides the following are primary considerations:
a) Protection of the Australian community from criminal or other serious conduct;
b) The best interests of minor children in Australia;
c) Expectations of the Australian community.
12 The Tribunal considered each of the primary considerations identified under paragraph 11 of Direction 65 as relevant to the application before it.
13 In relation to primary consideration (a), namely protection of the Australian community from criminal or other serious conduct, the Tribunal referred to paragraphs 9.1(1) and (2) of the Direction which provide:
9.1 Protection of the Australian community
(1) When considering protection of the Australian community, decision-makers should have regard to the principle that the Government is committed to protecting the Australian community from harm as a result of criminal activity or other serious conduct by non-citizens. Remaining in Australia is a privilege that Australia confers on non-citizens in the expectation that they are, and have been, law abiding, will respect important institutions, and will not cause or threaten harm to individuals or the Australian community.
(2) Decision-makers should also give consideration to:
a) The nature and seriousness of the non-citizen's conduct to date;
and
b) The risk to the Australian community should the non-citizen commit further offences or engage in other serious conduct.
14 The Tribunal described the circumstances of the applicant's conviction on 14 April 2010, including the nature of his assault of his former wife in the presence of one of his children, and a further assault on his wife in which he punched her in the ribs with closed fists, for which the applicant was convicted on 9 May 2013. The Tribunal noted that the applicant had also been convicted of assaults in relation to the destruction or damage of property, and two offences for the contravention of apprehended violence orders. The Tribunal had regard to the sentencing remarks of the Local Court made on 9 May 2013 in which the Magistrate described the circumstances of both assault offences as "very similar", and accepted that the sentencing remarks, as well as the statement of facts of the 2010 conviction were a reliable account of the facts relating to both assault convictions. In relation to these convictions the Tribunal noted evidence given by the applicant at the Tribunal hearing in which he accepted responsibility for his past actions and expressed remorse, although he also felt that he had pleaded guilty because he had received poor legal advice.
15 The Tribunal observed:
[21] Paragraph 13.1.2(1) of the Direction requires that in considering whether the applicant represents an unacceptable risk of harm to individuals, groups or institutions in the Australian community, I should have regard to the principle that the Australian community's tolerance for any risk of future harm becomes lower as the seriousness of the potential harm increases. Some conduct and the harm that would be caused if it were to be repeated is so serious that any risk that it may be repeated may be unacceptable.
16 At the Tribunal hearing the applicant relied on an expert report of a clinical psychologist, Dr Frank Walsh, dated 4 July 2016, in which Dr Walsh concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the applicant had any propensity for violence over and above that of the ordinary person, and further assessed the applicant as being a low risk of being a threat to the Australian community should he be permitted to remain resident in Australia. Dr Walsh also considered the applicant did not suffer from any psychological disorder or psychopathology. The Tribunal noted however that Dr Walsh did not provide an explanation for the applicant's past conduct.
17 At [23] the Tribunal noted that Dr Walsh was unaware that the applicant had earlier received treatment from consultant psychologist Ms Saime Dilek, who, in a report dated 19 June 2015, opined that the applicant met the criteria of major depression, anxiety and stress in terms of DSM-IV. In her report Ms Dilek noted that a number of diagnostic instruments were administered to the applicant. In light of Ms Dilek's view that the applicant suffered a major mental illness for which he was apparently receiving no treatment, the Tribunal was not satisfied that the applicant presented a low risk of violence to the Australian community.
18 The Tribunal placed some weight on Dr Walsh's opinion that major mental illness was a factor associated with violence.
19 At [24] the Tribunal expressed concern that, other than completing an anger management course while serving his sentence of imprisonment, there was no indication that the applicant had undertaken rehabilitation to address his conduct such as the domestic violence course ordered by the Local Court on 14 April 2010.
20 At [25]-[26] the Tribunal considered the applicant's claims that his former wife was the physical aggressor in their arguments, however noted Dr Walsh's rejection of that position. The Tribunal agreed with this particular view of Dr Walsh, and concluded that:
the account of events provided to Dr Walsh by the applicant indicated that the applicant was not remorseful and had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions; and
as a sentencing Magistrate observed, it was "in [the applicant's] character" to perform the acts which led to his convictions.
21 At [27] the Tribunal said:
[27] I consider that the consideration of protecting the Australian community from criminal or other serious conduct strongly favours the cancellation of the applicant's visa. There is no cogent evidence that there is little or no risk of re-offending. I am concerned that there is no explanation why the applicant has committed these violent offences.
22 In relation to primary consideration (b), namely the best interests of minor children in Australia, the Tribunal noted in summary that:
the applicant had two children under the age of 18 years in Australia;
he had had little physical contact with them following his incarceration;
he had moved to central Queensland following his release from prison and his children lived in another State;
he was in regular telephone contact with the children.
23 The Tribunal expressed concern that the applicant denied that his children had seen him assault his former wife - a denial the Tribunal found implausible in light of the remarks of the sentencing Magistrate in 2013. The Tribunal also expressed concern that the applicant's current partner had young children.
24 At [30] the Tribunal concluded that the primary consideration requiring him to consider the best interests of minor children favoured the cancellation of the applicant's visa.
25 In relation to primary consideration (c), namely expectations of the Australian community, the Tribunal observed:
[31] The Australian community expects non-citizens to obey Australian laws. The violent offences committed by the applicant weigh heavily against the applicant. I find that the expectations of the Australian community weigh strongly in favour of the cancellation of the applicant's visa. Any risk that the applicant would repeat his violent conduct is unacceptable in terms of principle four of the preamble to the Direction.
(footnotes omitted.)
26 Under the heading "Other Considerations" the Tribunal said, in summary:
there were no relevant international non-refoulement obligations;
there were no impediments to the applicant resuming residence in New Zealand, where, as a citizen, he would receive social services support;
the applicant had a new partner with children, who was unable to leave Cairns. The Tribunal noted that the applicant had a good relationship with his new partner's children, that he paid for their health insurance, and that consideration of the applicant's strength, nature and duration of ties with his new partner and her children favoured a decision not to cancel the applicant's visa;
the first offences committed by the applicant occurred in 2010 after the applicant had been a permanent resident for only two years;
a favourable work reference supportive of the applicant had been provided by a former employer, suggesting that the applicant was highly respected in the workplace;
victim impact evidence of the applicant's former wife, whom he had assaulted, favoured cancellation of the applicant's visa.
27 In conclusion, the Tribunal said:
[38] I am not satisfied that the applicant passes the character test as defined by s 501(6) of the Act. I have taken into account the Direction and all the evidence before me. In my opinion the three primary considerations: the protection of the Australian community from criminal or other serious conduct, the interests of minor children in Australia and the expectations of the Australian community support the cancellation of the applicant's visa. The considerations which support the decision to cancel the applicant's visa are not outweighed by the considerations which favour revocation of that decision. Therefore, I am satisfied that the applicant's visa should be cancelled.