Fed: Jovicic should be given permanent visa: Greens

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Fed: Jovicic should be given permanent visa: Greens

CANBERRA, Feb 19 AAP - Sydney man Robert Jovicic faces an uncertain future following
the immigration department's decision to grant him only a temporary visa, a Greens senator
says.

Senator Kerry Nettle welcomed the news today that Mr Jovicic had been issued a Special
Purpose Visa (SPV) that will allow him to stay and work in Australia for two years.

But she said the decision not to grant him permanent residency meant the issue had
not been resolved.

"Whilst I am glad Robert is not being deported again I am left bemused as to why the
immigration minister has been unable to grant him residency," Senator Nettle said.

"(Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews) has kept the uncertainty in Robert's life with
this decision."

She said it was not clear how the decision to keep Mr Jovicic on a temporary visa helped
the Australian community.

"Robert Jovicic only has one home and that is in Australia," she said.

"To remove the right to his home does nothing to help Robert's rehabilitation into
the community."

Mr Jovicic, 42, was born in France to Serbian parents who moved to Australia when he
was two. He never became an Australian citizen and is now stateless.

Despite living in Australia most of his life, he was deported to Serbia in June 2004
after committing a string of crimes linked to his heroin addiction.

He was allowed back after declaring himself destitute in Serbia.

But the government earlier this month warned Mr Jovicic it could place him in immigration
detention if he did not apply for Serbian citizenship by today.

His SPV, which had been renewed several times since his return, expired earlier this month.

Mr Andrews today said the government had decided to grant Mr Jovicic a visa, subject
to several reporting conditions.

AAP jb/sb/wjf/imc/de

KEYWORD: JOVICIC GREENS

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