Deported to the Wrong Country...

**Papewaio** · 11-24-2005, 03:18

Relatives say they're stunned by the Australian Government's treatment of a Melbourne man they say was stripped of his residency and dumped in Serbia where he is now stateless and destitute.

Robert Jovicic says he was deported to Serbia, a country he had never before set foot in, in June 2004 despite having lived in Australia for all but two of his 38 years.

Mr Jovicic has spent the past two nights camped in sub-zero temperatures outside the Australian embassy in the Serbian capital
...

She said that, because her brother had lived in Australia since the age of two, he had always considered himself Australian and had never thought to apply for citizenship.

...

Australia's ambassador to Serbia John Oliver has raised concerns about Mr Jovicic's situation in an email to his family in Australia.

But the Immigration Department has released a statement saying Mr Jovicic had a substantial criminal record and that Mr Ruddock, when he was immigration minister, used his discretion to cancel his visa under the Migration Act.

Also he was born in France not Serbia... its all Europe.

**Byzantine Prince** · 11-24-2005, 03:23

Crap like this goes on all the time. Anyone who has lived in more then two countries knows about the problems that arise out of it.

**Red Harvest** · 11-24-2005, 07:48

Felt sorry for him until I got to the criminal record part of it. It seems right to deport him, but why not to France?

**bmolsson** · 11-24-2005, 07:52

Doesn't he automaticall get a refugee passport for UN or something ??

**BDC** · 11-24-2005, 17:34

Also he was born in France not Serbia... its all Europe.

Would you rather be stateless in Serbia or France right now...

**Red Harvest** · 11-24-2005, 17:42

Originally Posted by BDC

Would you rather be stateless in Serbia or France right now...

Tough question...did the French finally get the riots under control? Of course, he would probably do better in France in winter, as he could warm himself beside a burning car.

**Slyspy** · 11-24-2005, 17:43

Originally Posted by BDC

Would you rather be stateless in Serbia or France right now...

Errr, France every time I think.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 11-25-2005, 21:16

I love this story just for the fantastic irony of Australia shipping off their convicted criminals to Europe.

**Red Harvest** · 11-25-2005, 21:31

Originally Posted by Louis IV the Fat

I love this story just for the fantastic irony of Australia shipping off their convicted criminals to Europe.

It is pretty amusing isn't it?

Should be titled, "Australia settles some old scores."

And how bad do you have to be to get kicked out of Australia?

Afterall, the Aussie's have always seemed a rather frontier/rough & tumble/resourceful lot to me. (And I mean all of that in positive way, as I can relate to that better.)

**Adrian II** · 11-25-2005, 21:43

Originally Posted by Red Harvest

And how bad do you have to be to get kicked out of Australia?

I know you are joking, but still.. some friends of mine just came back from a 2-month trip in Oz and they had a great time there. Fantastic scenery, beautiful beaches, great wildlife. People were friendly, helpful, civilised. Public spaces were large, clean, relaxed and done in good taste. The food was excellent, hotels and B&B's were top-notch.

Of course they didn't meet the proverbial Outback dweller called Bruce with a cork-rimmed hat, seventeen cousins, a 35 word vocabulary and a couple of missing teeth who hunts wild hogs from the back of his Toyota pick-up for a living.

But they are going back next year, and guess where they are going...

**Redleg** · 11-25-2005, 21:50

Originally Posted by AdrianII

Of course they didn't meet the proverbial Outback dweller called Bruce with a cork-rimmed hat, seventeen cousins, a 35 word vocabulary and a couple of missing teeth who hunts wild hogs from the back of his Toyota pick-up for a living.

But they are going back next year, and guess where they are going...

East Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana - and a few other places that have the same type of individual minus the cork-rimmed hat. They be wearing the old wornout baseball cap from their pee-wee days of playing baseball. With a wad of tobacco in their mouth.........

**Adrian II** · 11-25-2005, 21:59

Originally Posted by Redleg

East Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana - and a few other places that have the same type of individual minus the cork-rimmed hat. They be wearing the old wornout baseball cap from their pee-wee days of playing baseball. With a wad of tobacco in their mouth.........

I know I know. I have a recollection of a village in Virginia... let me just say that most of the men there appeared to be their own fathers.

Anyway, in the United States, Virginia (oh, along with Vermont) is among my favourite places in this world for scenery, hospitality and food. Not that I have lived there, but I have been around.

That rugged Lake Virginia, oh my...