Pollyana

Likewise. No wonder the place is on its last legs.

GarryP

Hmm, well it was verystormy who turned a visa question into a political bias question.

As a generic point, all fora have 'strange attractors' - subjects that all articles tend to circle back to and thus lose relevance. It's the basis behind Godwin's law. Here one of those is right wing types trying to make everything about politics and bias - not surprising, they tend to pop up everywhere today - trying to warp reality to line up with their ideology.

Strangely visas ISN'T one of the the attractors here - for instance nobody is talking about Brexit being an opportunity that Australia could be taking to entice high skilled Brits to migrate. Even the idea of a free movement area for certain nations seems to have died away since last year.

moneypenny20

I thought (could be wrong) I started the thread because I was naffed off that someone could be smart enough to apply for and be granted a visa and have no concept of the term 'Temporary'.

scrubbedexpat094

I hear you. I don't know why some people think that the rules don't apply to them and then get upset when they find that they do!

carcajou

You did.

If I remember, following posters largely concurred with you, and then from there the thread drifted into some irritation that The Guardian tried to transform it from "guy didn't read his visa conditions / thought they wouldn't apply to him" into a sob story about how the Australian Government is mean to migrants.

Once the Guardian starts get cited on these threads, the horse bolts the barn.

moneypenny20

Either that or it's been put down but is continually flogged.

BEVS

Me neither. We had a couple of such cases locally here. Whipping up media attention with a sob story.

spouse of scouse

Playing Devil's advocate here - I agree that crying foul is a bit rich given that he was on a temporary visa, and I don't think he should be given any special treatment by DIBP - the rules are the rules. But I don't blame him for using the media in a 'clutching at straws' way - he's built a good life for himself and his family in Oz (on very shaky foundations) and he's desperate to stay.

Should he be permitted to stay in Oz? No, not unless he can qualify for another type of visa. Is it ok to use the media to sway government and public opinion in your favour? It must be, because individuals, corporations and governments use the media for this every day.

scrubbedexpat094

Fair point spouse of scouse. Playing the media card can work for some, I guess. Usually helps if you've got a bit of money to help swing things in your favour.

spouse of scouse

Oh yes, cash is king in immigration! He could get an investor visa tomorrow if he had a few million laying about.