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Home » To Still Call Australia Home? Section 501. “The greatness of a nation can be judged by how it treats its weakest member,”

To Still Call Australia Home? Section 501. “The greatness of a nation can be judged by how it treats its weakest member,”

I believe the most important work a lawyer can do is “fight the good fight”. And I concur with the words from Emma Lazarus’ sonnet, New Colossus that appear on the statute of Liberty inspire our better natures, particularly the lines:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

They are moving and uplifting words – we all get swept away with this sentiment and so we should.

But what if your huddled masses contain sick, old or criminal. What then?

AR LAW Services over the last 20 years or so have help many “asylum” seekers – refugees, women at risk, victims of domestic violence – to find safety and call Australia home.

We have also help many disenfranchised. Those who are shunned, those considered by various Governments to be loathsome and beneath contempt and denied the protection of rule of law.

But what to do with those who have live a life outside the law in Australia? Those who have done terrible acts. Those who have refused to be part of the Australia community and have lived a life of crime?

Or perhaps the even more difficult question is what to do with “ex-cons” in general and “ex-cons” that are not Australian Citizens in particular?

I believe the rule of law is the bed rock of our liberal democracy. But to do so means one must have faith in the criminal justice system. It also means – I believe – that once a person has served their “time” – there punishment – there is a notion, perhaps implied, that we the community will allow those who have “done their time” can again be consider part of our Australian community.

And that I believe is in keeping with the Australian concept of a “fair go”, to do otherwise is to reduce our criminal justice system to mere “lip service” and yet that is what now occurs pursuant to s501 of the Migration Act.

This government regularly “deports” long term residents of Australia – so who have live 50, 60 even more than 70 years in Australia.

Now no one is saying all these people are “pure as the driven snow” but that is not the question – the question is what sort of country do we want to be?

So if you or someone you know has had their visa cancelled or have received notice from the department the visa is about to be cancelled pursuant to section 501 or any other grounds talk to us.  (for more about cancelled or refused visa go to

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AR LAW Services are not only Masters of Migration and Visa law but we have extensive experience in AAT and Federal Circuit Court appeals including GTE, PIC 4020 Bogus Document, health and character matters and s501 cases, these are extremely complex and specialist area of Australian immigration law and that is where a Master Migration Law with over 20 years experience may give you the edge you need.

In these uncertain times of ever changing laws you can depend on us! AR LAW SERVICES. The Smarter, Tougher, Better Immigration Lawyers.  We will fight for you.

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Call 03 9614 0218 or email info@arlaw.com.au to make an initial 30 Minute consultation at our Melbourne office. (conditions apply)

For more go to   www.arlaw.com.au

Note: this update, or any previous updates on this page, do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Please call our office to seek professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content on this page