Merits review by Tribunal
13 Mr Motufoaki sought review in the Tribunal on 27 June 2020. There was a hearing before the Tribunal over the course of 8, 9 and 10 September 2020. Mr Motufoaki was self-represented but had assistance with preparing written submissions.
14 The Tribunal published its reasons on 17 September 2020, affirming the delegate's decision not to revoke the visa cancellation.
15 The Tribunal recorded in its reasons evidence from witnesses, some who provided statements, a psychological evaluation and report, and Mr Motufoaki's written and closing submissions.
16 According to the Tribunal's reasons, Mr Motufoaki gave evidence that his immediate family consists of three brothers plus himself, an older sister and his mother and father. Nearly all of his immediate family live in Australia. His sister lives in Auckland, but he has had no contact with her since his only visit back to New Zealand in 2004.
17 Mr Motufoaki also gave evidence as to his offending (admitting his offences except the assault in 2019), his background, his relationships with partners, family and friends, his work and jobs, his membership of the Niuean community, what it might be like should he be returned to New Zealand, and his motivation to change.
18 Relevantly, the Tribunal in its reasons summarised the evidence before it relating to the issue of the interests of minor children. The children to whom Mr Motufoaki referred were two daughters of his cousin. He referred to them as his nieces.
19 Mr Motufoaki said he has a 'very close' relationship with the children, stating that he babysat them, picked them up from school, and saw them on most weekends and on other family occasions. The Tribunal noted that upon further questioning Mr Motufoaki said that the school pick up was incidental to a visit with his cousin. Mr Motufoaki also said that he had not seen the children since Easter 2019, and there had been no contact with them since he had been incarcerated.
20 The Tribunal continued (at para 35):
Mr Motufoaki agreed that the girls are well looked after by their parents but confirmed he provided money to his cousin to help with bills in '2018-2019'. This was described as a 'one- off sort of thing', and then stated that he gave sums of $50 on occasions when he had money, four or five times. I asked Mr Motufoaki why he did this when he had had difficulty paying for petrol and he responded that he 'would rather give them money than pay for petrol'. I asked Mr Motufoaki whether his cousin was unemployed and he responded that his cousin was working.
21 The Tribunal recorded Mr Motufoaki's oral submissions as follows (at para 79):
(a) it is unfair to be judged on actions from fourteen years ago and he wants the opportunity to work and change his life;
(b) he has developed a better ability to approach life and is a recovered addict and a victim of two incidents of domestic violence;
(c) Mr Motufoaki wants to return to Melbourne to help his parents and his brother who has a disability and the COVID risk is concerning;
(d) he is in need of intense medical care for arthritis, PTSD and depression;
(e) prison and detention have helped in his rehabilitation, he now understands the importance of his family and he loves them;
(f) this process should operate as a warning, he does not deny the past and takes full responsibility for his actions;
(g) if he re-offends his visa can be cancelled again.
22 The Tribunal also summarised the matters that Mr Motufoaki had emphasised, based on his statement of facts and issues (at para 80):
(a) the importance of protecting the Australian community from harm and that non- citizens should be law abiding, that he acknowledged his offending and 'my life is here in Australia and this is a reason…to no longer offend' (at [39]-[40]);
(b) he faces impediments on return to New Zealand including difficulty re-establishing himself after a long absence, returning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for psychological treatment and counselling, and practical and emotional hardship including difficulty coping without family support (at [98]-[100]);
(c) that he had successfully completed a Youth Supervision Order and 'demonstrated exemplary behaviour whilst in prison and attempted every avenue to rehabilitate, with success in completing some rehabilitation' (at [101]-[102]);
(d) the longest period of long-term detention was more than 14 years ago, and it 'is an unconstitutional action if this were to be used against me today', he takes ownership of his offending and addiction, and his behaviour in detention is how he will behave in the community (at [103]-[105]);
(e) the last 20 years did 'not work out' and he will devote the next twenty years to change and family.
23 The Tribunal then proceeded to address the limbs of s 501CA(4).
24 The Tribunal was not satisfied that Mr Motufoaki passed the character test by reason of his substantial criminal record. The Tribunal recorded that there was some debate before it as to whether a link was required between the sentence being served at the time of visa cancellation and the definition of 'substantial criminal record' in s 501(7) being a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more. Mr Motufoaki contended that it was unfair to rely on a previous conviction (which had been served) for the purpose of the 12 month requirement. The Tribunal said in relation to this (at paras 90-91):
Neither the legislation nor the Direction provide specifically for a link between these two prerequisite conditions. Accordingly, it is open to make the finding that Mr Motufoaki's earlier substantial sentence satisfies the definition of substantial criminal record, and that he was serving a sentence at the time of the mandatory cancellation.
Accordingly, I find that Mr Motufoaki does not pass the character test and I must consider whether there is another reason why the mandatory cancellation decision should be revoked.
25 The Tribunal then proceeded to address the various Direction 79 considerations. It is not necessary to summarise the Tribunal's treatment of all of the considerations.
26 The Tribunal considered the protection of the Australian community and found that Mr Motufoaki had engaged in violent conduct that should be viewed very seriously. It found that there was a real risk of Mr Motufoaki reoffending, and this primary consideration weighed strongly against revocation.
27 The Tribunal then considered the best interests of minor children affected by the decision. It is appropriate to extract the reasons:
118. This primary consideration requires me to consider (at 13.2): whether revocation is in the best interests of a child who is a minor at the time the revocation decision is made; to consider children individually if there is more than one child, to the extent their interest may differ; and to consider, where relevant, factors including the following (and I summarise):
(a) the nature and duration of the relationship with less weight given to non-parental relationships, or limited meaningful contact;
(b) the likely effect of any separation taking into account the ability to maintain contact by other means;
(c) whether other persons fulfil a parental role.
119. Mr Motufoaki submitted that there are two minor children described in written submission as nieces, being V, aged 6, and S, aged 5. From evidence at the hearing it is apparent the children are those of one of Mr Motufoaki's cousins.
120. In his written submissions, Mr Motufoaki asserted weekly contact with the girls and this was broadly sustained in his oral evidence. He gave examples of contact that included picking the girls up from school, although this appeared to be incidental to him spending time with his cousin and did not appear to be a matter of routine.
121. Mr Motufoaki gave evidence that he has provided funds - possibly totalling as much as $200 - to the girls' parents to assist with costs of upbringing. I am prepared to accept this evidence at face value, albeit that he also stated that he preferred to provide money to the girls than pay for petrol. In any event, the evidence was that the children are well parented and there is no evidence that the money was needed on a regular basis in order to ensure their wellbeing.
122. I accept that there is some tangible evidence, a photograph, demonstrating the link held between the two girls and Mr Motufoaki. However, his evidence at the hearing was that he had not had contact with them during his most recent periods of incarceration. There is no direct evidence as to the affect separation from Mr Motufaku might have on V and S, but I accept there is likely to be, at the least, real fondness between them, and they would feel some impact.
123. Taking into account the factors arising in this consideration under the Direction, I am unable to identify anything particularly critical in the relationship between V and S and Mr Motufoaki. Nor do I consider it necessary to consider their interests separately. Accordingly, I can only ascribe slight weight to this consideration in favour of revocation.
28 The Tribunal then turned to the consideration of the expectations of the Australian community, finding that Mr Motufoaki's risk of reoffending puts both individuals and the public at large at risk physically, and that puts property and public order at risk. It concluded that the real risk of reoffending, taken together with the nature and duration of prior offending, supported a finding that this primary consideration weighed strongly against revocation.
29 The Tribunal then considered the strength, nature and duration of ties to Australia, finding that this consideration weighed slightly in favour of revocation. It also found that the extent of impediments if removed weighed only slightly in favour of revocation.
30 The Tribunal concluded, saying:
153. Of the primary considerations I have found that the protection of the Australian community and the expectations of the Australian community weigh strongly against revocation, and the interests of minor children weighs minimally in favour of revocation. Of the other considerations I have found that strength, nature and duration of ties and extent of impediments if removed weigh slightly in favour of revocation.
154. The process of assessing considerations is not a mathematical one, yet the Direction does talk in terms of considerations weighing for and against revocation. I have arrived at findings in these terms. The Direction states that primary considerations should generally be given greater weight than other considerations (paragraph 8(4)). Here I consider that the primary considerations protection of the Australian community and expectations of the Australian community are strongly weighted against revocation and, together, outweigh the bests interests of minor children and the other considerations that weigh slightly in favour of revocation. Accordingly, I consider that I am not able to identify another reason why Mr Motufoaki's mandatory visa cancellation should be revoked.
31 Accordingly the Tribunal affirmed the visa cancellation decision of the delegate under review.