From ABC, January 2, 2007
AUST LAWYERS COMPLAIN TO UN OVER CRIMINAL'S DEPORTATION
Melbourne lawyers have filed an official complaint with the United Nations about the deportation to Sweden of an Australian-raised criminal.
Thirty-three-year-old Stefan Nystrom was born in Sweden while his mother was holidaying there; he has lived in Australia since he was 25 days old.
He was deported over the weekend after the High Court upheld the Immigration Department's decision to cancel his permanent residency because he has more than 80 criminal convictions.
The director of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, Phillip Lynch, has filed a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee.
He says the Australian Government has breached Nystrom's fundamental rights under the International Covenant of Political and Civil Rights.
"He is, for all intents and purposes, other than those considered by the Minister, a fully integrated member of the Australian community," Mr Lynch said.
"Most importantly, he's been socialised, and, if you like, has been criminalised and certainly conducted all of his criminal activity in Australia."
Mr Lynch says the Government is deporting its home-grown problems.
"It was merely an accident of history that Mr Nystrom was born in Sweden," Mr Lynch said.
"His mother was holidaying there at the time and he was born there because she was too late in her pregnancy to return to Australia.
"He returned to Australia aged 25 days and has spent the the remainder of his 33 years in Australia, having never left the country."
Mr Lynch says Nystrom is a fully-absorbed member of the Australian community and the Federal Government is legally obliged to treat him as a citizen.
"The committee has been asked to request that Australia reinstate Mr Nystrom's permanent residency visa," Mr Lynch said.
"And further, that in accordance with the standards applicable under Australian domestic law, that he be paid compensation for his pain and suffering and loss."
ARRIVAL IN SWEDEN 'SHOCKING'
Nystrom's mother, Britt Nystrom, says Nystrom arrived in Stockholm on Saturday and was not given any help by either the Australian or Swedish governments.
"We thought someone would be there from the Swedish Government or something but nobody turned up," she said.
"He was just walking around at the airport, he didn't know anything - I mean, he doesn't speak any Swedish.
"I know a lot of people speak English, but it must have been a shocking thing for him.
"He got very, very upset, he just wanted to come back to Australia.
"My father-in-law and sister-in-law had been notified he was going to come, so luckily they arrived."