Jovicic faces prospect of detention in Villawood, and deportation
Tonight Stateless man Robert Jovicic will find out whether his visa in Australia will be revoked, a move that could see him sent to Villawood detention centre. Robert was born in France to Serbian parents but has spent most of his life in Australia as a permanent resident. However under amendments made to the migration Act, anyone who has spent more than a year in jail that fails a character test can be deported to their country of origin. According to Researcher Glenn Nicholls, who works with Swinburn University’s Social research unit, up to 80 people each year are deported from face in a similar fate under section 501 of the immigration act. Burt most disturbingly Jovicic, who was originally deported to Serbia in 2004 and lived rough in Belgrade outside the Australian embassy, could face a long stay in Villawood because he is officially listed as a stateless man. Glenn Nicholls outlined for The Wire how the laws operate.