Robert Jovicic

) Robert Jovicic was a long-time resident of Australia who was deported to Serbia where he became destitute in 2005.

Jovicic was born on December 4, 1966 in France of Serbian parents. At the age of two, his family migrated to Australia, where Jovicic became an Australian permanent resident and lived for the next 36 years before his Australian Permanent Residency was revoked in 2004.

In Australia, Jovicic became addicted to heroin and turned to crime. By 2004 his criminal record numbered some 158 criminal convictions, mainly for burglary and theft.cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/home-and-away--now-for-a-fresh-start/2006/03/09/1141701634127.html |title = Home and away - now for a fresh start - National - smh.com.au |publisher = Sydney Morning Herald| date = 2006-03-09|accessdate = 2008-07-28] In June 2004 his permanent residency was cancelled and he was detained, before being deported to Belgrade, Serbia, at the discretion of the then Australian Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone [cite news|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/12/20/1534974.htm |title = Jovicic in court bid for return to Aust |work = ABC News |publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date = 2005-12-20 |accessdate = 2008-07-28] [cite news|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/06/09/1659721.htm |title = Decision reserved in Jovicic visa case|work = ABC News |publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date = 2006-06-09 |accessdate = 2008-07-28] . The Australian Government only obtained a 7 day visa for him, which meant he was unable to work, and the Serbian authorities declared him stateless [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1590439.htm] dead link|date=July 2008] .

He turned up destitute and ill, sleeping rough in freezing temperatures outside the Australian embassy in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, in late November 2005 [cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1515473.htm |work = Lateline |date = 2005-11-23|title = Family pleads for deportees return |publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate = 2008-07-28] . His case was widely publicised in the Australian media, and there were calls for the Australian Government to reverse its cancellation of Jovicic's permanent residency. Jovicic's legal counsel have stated that he does not speak or understand the Serbian language. Jovicic's father now lives in Serbia, but he has his own problems (with alcohol) and his relationship with Robert is strained, so he was of little help .

In March 2006, Senator Amanda Vanstone announced that Jovicic would be given a special purpose visa and allowed to return to Australia. She apparently promised the family through the then DIMIA that he would be returned and given an RRV (Resident Return Visa). According to his lawyer and others he was also offered access to the new Reconnecting People Package cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1588226.htm |work = Lateline |date = 2006-03-09|title = Jovicic awaits residency decision|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate = 2008-07-28] [cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1610496.htm |title = PM - Jovicic granted six-month visa |accessdate = 2008-07-28] , which is for the reintegration of those wrongly detained (it would seem that if this package was offered it has since been withdrawn). Jovicic returned to Australia on the 9th March 2006, but to no certainty about his status . This state of uncertainty continued for almost a year, until he was granted a two year special protection visa in 19th February 2007 [cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1851663.htm |title = Jovicic granted 2 year special protection visa |accessdate = 2008-07-28 |publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date = 2007|work = PM] by Senator Vanstone's successor as Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews.

In February 2008 the new Labor Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, granted a Permanent Resident visa to Robert Jovicic. [cite press|url = http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2008/ce08018.htm| title = Permanent visa granted to Robert Jovicic| date = 23 February 2008| accessdate = 2008-06-04| publisher = Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)]

ee also

Other prominent immigration cases in Australia:

*Cornelia Rau
*Vivian Solon
*Stefan Nystrom

References

*http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17349473-5001028,00.html
*http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1515472.htm
*http://seven.com.au/news/nationalnews/123924
*http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bring-jovicic-home-beazley/2005/11/25/1132703346873.html
*http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article329213.ece
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSCA/2001/43.html DPP v Jovicic (2001)]
*http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1582773.htm
*http://www.smh.com.au/news/miranda-devine/worlds-gone-mad-when-bad-guys-want-compo/2005/12/03/1133422144118.html
*http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1590439.htm
*http://www.alp.org.au/media/0306/dsiimm100.php
* [http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1852021.htm Jovicic granted reprieve by Immigration Department]
* [http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2007/ka07004.htm Immigration Media Release]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1590439.htm