A British national, identified as Ryan Turner, has been placed in immigration detention in Western Australia following the cancellation of his visa on character grounds. Mr. Turner, who previously resided in Perth, faces deportation from Australia.
Detention and Visa Cancellation
Ryan Turner's visa was cancelled, leading to his detention by immigration authorities on Tuesday. While the official grounds for cancellation are cited as "character grounds," additional information has emerged from various sources regarding the circumstances. Mr. Turner retains the right to appeal the visa cancellation decision or voluntarily return to the United Kingdom.
Allegations and Statements
Allegations from one source suggest Mr. Turner has connections to a neo-Nazi group, specifically identifying him as a reported member of the National Socialist Network. This group organized an anti-Jewish rally outside the New South Wales parliament in the previous year.
Conversely, a senior member of the "White Australia" movement's Western Australian branch posted on social media, describing Mr. Turner as a "good friend" of the movement. This post claimed that Mr. Turner had not violated any laws or participated in activism and alleged his deportation was a result of his involvement in weekend boxing activities with "other white men."
Immigration Minister Tony Burke provided a statement on the matter, affirming the government's position of "zero tolerance for bigotry and hate." Minister Burke further stated, "If you don't like Australia you can leave."
Related Deportations and Legislative Context
The detention of Mr. Turner follows other recent deportations involving foreign nationals. In a separate case, South African national Matthew Gruter was removed from Australia after attending an anti-Semitic rally in November, held outside NSW Parliament and organized by the National Socialist Network. Mr. Gruter was identified as a member of this network.
Additionally, British national Kayn Adam Charles Wells, residing in Queensland, was arrested and charged with using a social media account to post Nazi symbols, promote pro-Nazi ideology, and advocate violence towards the Jewish community. His visa was cancelled, and he was placed in immigration detention, reportedly requesting voluntary removal from Australia during a court appearance.
Australia updated its hate crime legislation last year, introducing mandatory jail terms for the display of hate symbols or the performance of Nazi salutes. Law enforcement has increased actions against the use of such symbols. Following an incident at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a government initiative aimed at addressing hate speech. These reforms are intended to introduce new legislation and provide the home affairs minister with expanded powers to cancel or refuse visas for individuals deemed to be disseminating hate.