Lesianawai v. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Catchwords

Immigration – Cancellation of Class BF 154 Transitional (Permanent) visa ("visa") – Character test – Plaintiff charged with offences before Children's Court – Misunderstanding of law – Irrelevant considerations – Where between 1996 and 1998, plaintiff found guilty by Children's Court of New South Wales of various offences – Where in 2010 plaintiff sentenced to terms of imprisonment for armed robbery offences – Where on 9 October 2013 delegate of defendant cancelled plaintiff's visa under s 501(2) of Migration Act 1958 (Cth) – Where there has been no merits review because plaintiff did not lodge application with Administrative Appeals Tribunal within prescribed time limits – Where proceedings were held in abeyance pending judgment in Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v Thornton [2023] HCA 17 – Whether defendant acted on misunderstanding of law by treating plaintiff's sentences between 1996 and 1998 as criminal convictions – Whether defendant took into account irrelevant consideration by having regard to plaintiff's offences between 1996 and 1998 and treating such conduct as criminal offending.