Ground 3
40 Ground 3 contends that the Tribunal failed to take relevant considerations into account. In oral submissions, the applicant referred to a number of considerations which were alleged not to have been taken into account, including:
(a) the applicant's age;
(b) the unfairness of relocation to Tonga;
(c) the applicant's health; and
(d) the fact that the applicant will be separated from his children and siblings, who are all Australian citizens who live in Australia.
41 I accept that the Tribunal was required to take into account each of the four relevant considerations alleged by the applicant. The applicant's age and health were required to be taken into account pursuant to para 14.5(1)(a) of Direction 79; the unfairness of relocating the applicant to Tonga when he has not lived there since the age of 14 was required to be taken into account pursuant to paras 14.5(1)(b) and (c) of Direction 79; and the fact that the applicant's children and siblings will remain in Australia was required to be taken into account pursuant to paras 13.2 and 14.2 of Direction 79.
42 I will now consider whether the Tribunal took into account each relevant consideration.
43 The first relevant consideration contended for by the applicant was his age. The applicant stated that, "They didn't really take into account my age and how old I am".
44 The Tribunal addressed the extent of any impediments the applicant may face if removed from Australia from para 102 of its reasons, stating that it was required by para 14.5(1)(a) of Direction 79 to take into account, "the non-citizen's age".
45 The Tribunal at para 103 noted that the applicant is 49 years old, and at paras 107-108 addressed the impact his age would have on his ability to establish himself and maintain basic living standards:
107. It was contended in the Applicant's SFIC that he would struggle to maintain a basic level of living standard, that due to his age, manual work would be very hard on him, and that he would not be able to cope financially, spiritually, emotionally or physically. It was further contended that the Applicant would have to fend for himself by growing crops and fishing. He told the Tribunal that he would have to relearn how to grow crops and fish.
108. The Applicant gave evidence that if he were returned to the wider community he could obtain employment as a personal trainer. Accordingly, I do not accept that he lacks the level of fitness required to do manual labour, grow crops or fish.
46 It is clear that the Tribunal took into account the applicant's age and the impact that it would have on the applicant in establishing himself in Tonga and maintaining basic living standards, as required by para 14.5(1)(a) of Direction 79.
47 The second relevant consideration contended for by the applicant was the unfairness of relocation to Tonga given that he has not lived there since he was 14 years old. The applicant stated that, "I feel their - to move me to another country at 50 that I haven't been in in long, long time was - I think it was unfair".
48 The Tribunal addressed the extent of any impediments the applicant may face if removed from Australia from para 102 of its reasons, stating that it was required by paras 14.5(1)(b) and (c) of Direction 79 to take into account, "whether there are any substantial language or cultural barriers; and…any social, medical and/or economic support available to that non-citizen in that country".
49 The Tribunal addressed the impact of removing the applicant to Tonga, a country he has not lived in or visited since the age of 14, as follows:
105. The Applicant told the Tribunal that he has many relatives living in Tonga although he has not been back to Tonga since he first arrived in Australia. He said his brothers and sisters have been back to Tonga and were in touch with relatives there. He said he thought his relatives in Tonga would be willing to help him although he doubted that they would have the resources to.
106. The Applicant can understand Tongan he and gave evidence that he speaks Tongan with his mother. Having spent the first 14 years of his life there, I am satisfied that the Applicant has reasonably good knowledge of Tongan culture despite having been absent for some 35 years. I am satisfied that the Applicant could update his knowledge of Tongan culture by communicating with his relatives who live in Tonga. I am not satisfied that there would be any significant or substantial language or other cultural barriers to the Applicant's return and re-establishment in Tonga.
…
109. It is likely that the Applicant will face some difficulty in re-establishing himself in Tonga as he does not have an existing social or support network there, he will have to secure accommodation, and he will have to find a way to survive financially. However, he has skills in the area of manual labour and personal training, he has relatives in Tonga that he could connect with, and he is open to the idea of growing crops and fishing. I accept that life will be more difficult, his standard of living will be lower, he will not have access to the same level of Government services that he has in Australia and it likely that his dental problems will not be fixed. Considering all of -this, I am of the view-that this Other Consideration (e) weighs moderately in favour of revocation of the reviewable decision.
50 It is clear that the Tribunal addressed the fact that the applicant has not lived in or visited Tonga since the age of 14, and the difficulties he would have in establishing himself in Tonga and maintaining basic living standards, as required by paras 14.5(1)(b) and (c).
51 The third relevant consideration contended for by the applicant was his health. The applicant stated that, "I feel that my health - they didn't take into account that my health is deteriorating since I have been here. I have lost close to 30 kilos since I have been in detention centre". To the extent that the applicant was referring to health impacts that have eventuated after the Tribunal's decision was made, that cannot be relevant as it was not something that was before the Tribunal.
52 The Tribunal addressed the extent of any impediments the applicant may face if removed from Australia from para 102 of its reasons, stating that it was required by para 14.5(1)(a) of Direction 79 to take into account "the non-citizen's…health".
53 Regarding the applicant's health generally, and in particular his written submissions made regarding his dental problems, that was addressed by the Tribunal as follows:
103. The Applicant is 49 years old and does not claim to have any medical problems although he is missing several teeth which causes him pain when eating as some teeth hit the bare gum opposite them. He said the waiting list for dental work at the detention centre is months long. I will proceed on the basis that if he is returned to Tonga, he will not have had his dental problems treated.
104. The Applicant does not claim to have any psychological problems, although he has unresolved issues with alcohol and drugs. I do not have any information before me about the availability of drugs and alcohol in Tonga, so I am unable to make any assessment of the risk that the Applicant would resume drug taking or abusing alcohol in Tonga.
54 It is apparent that the Tribunal addressed the applicant's health and the impact that it would have on the applicant in establishing himself in Tonga and maintaining basic living standards, as required by para 14.5(1)(a) of Direction 79.
55 The fourth relevant consideration contended for by the applicant was the fact that his children and siblings are Australian citizens and that he will be separated from them if he is removed to Tonga. The applicant stated that:
They didn't really take into account that the - all my kids are here. They're all citizen of Australia, and to remove me away from them, I thought that was a very unfair thing to do. My family - my brothers and sisters, they are all citizen of Australia and they live here. I have no one in - in Tonga. I think - you know, just move me to a new country that I haven't been in four years, I feel it was unfair, and to leave my children behind, I think - and that's where I thought it was really unfair of the AAT not to - to consider, you know, mainly my - my children. You know, to - to split up, you know, my children from me with - I didn't think they - they took to - due consideration to the fact that all my children are here, and I have got two minor kids that I would - I would love to be around for.
56 The Tribunal addressed the best interests of minor children at para 69 of its reasons, stating that it was required by para 13.2(1) of Direction 79 to take into account, "whether revocation is in the best interests of a child who may be affected by cancellation of the Applicant's visa".
57 The Tribunal addressed the applicant's submissions regarding minor children whose best interests would be affected by the decision at paras 71 to 86 of the reasons, and concluded at para 87 that:
I am satisfied that it would be in the best interests of Child A and, to a lesser extent, Child B for there to be at least the potential for the Applicant to make a positive contribution in each of their lives, and that his physical presence in Australia would create potential for that. Based on this potential, I allocate a limited measure of weight in the Applicant's favour in relation to Primary Consideration B.
58 It is clear that the Tribunal addressed the applicant's minor children and the impact that the removal of the applicant would have on those children, as required by para 13.2(1) of Direction 79.
59 The Tribunal at paras 95 to 99 addressed the strength, nature and duration of ties pursuant to para 14.2(1)(b) of Direction 79. In particular, the Tribunal addressed the applicant's immediate family as follows:
97. With respect to paragraph 14.2(1)(b), the Applicant's immediate family live in Australia. In addition to Child A, he claims to have four adult children in Australia. His eldest, Ms L, lives in Perth and keeps in touch with him. Ms M and Ms N are sisters who live in Brisbane. Ms M is the child who intervened in the domestic violence offence to protect her mother. The Applicant believes that she has tried to contact him but that there is an "order" in place preventing him from contacting her. The Applicant estimates that the last time he spoke with Ms N was two or three months ago: A son, Mr O, has no contact with the Applicant. The Applicant also has many relatives in Australia. He has established some very recent relationships while in Immigration Detention which do not carry as much weight. Two people who appear to have known the Applicant for some time provided letters of support. I am satisfied that the Applicant has significant familial ties, and some social ties, to the Australian community.
98. I am further satisfied that the Applicant's immediate family will be adversely impacted by his removal from Australia although there is no reliable evidence that the impact would be significant for any of them.
60 The Tribunal clearly addressed the applicant's adult children and the impact the removal of the applicant would have on them, as required by para 14.2(1)(b) of Direction 79.
61 The Tribunal addressed the impact of the separation of the applicant from his siblings when it stated that the applicant had "many relatives in Australia", and when it concluded that the applicant's "immediate family" would be adversely impacted by his removal, as required by para 14.2(1)(b) of Direction 79.
62 The applicant has not established that the Tribunal failed to take into account the four relevant considerations contended for.
63 Ground 3 of the application must be rejected.