Haneef case will damage Australia: Russo
Sunday July 29, 03:37 PM
The lawyer for Mohamed Haneef says Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' refusal to reinstate his client's working visa will damage Australia's reputation.
Dr Haneef flew home to India on Saturday night after a charge against him of supporting a terrorist organisation was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Mr Andrews revoked Dr Haneef's visa earlier this month, just hours after a Brisbane court had granted him bail.
Despite the collapse of the case, the minister vowed Sunday not to reinstate Dr Haneef's visa unless the Indian national's lawyers are successful in appealing the decision in the Federal Court.
Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo is accompanying his client on a flight to Bangalore, and has expressed his anger at Mr Andrews' decision during a stopover in Bangkok.
"The minister's decision is beyond bizarre," Mr Russo said in a statement.
"The minister's decision will mystify the great majority of Australian people.
"It will make overseas people very suspicious about living and working in Australia and this negative perception will take decades to erase."
Mr Russo said he was angered by Mr Andrews' comments on Sunday that Dr Haneef's rapid departure from Australia heightened his suspicion of the former Gold Coast doctor.
"Dr Haneef had left the country voluntarily after the criminal charge was dropped, but he wanted to continue the fight to have his work visa restored," Mr Russo said.
"What we can't understand is how the minister can cling to a view that a man who had been detained for nearly a month on charges that proved to be baseless can continue to smear his good name through an executive decision based on secret material."
Immigration officials prevented Dr Haneef from conducting an open press conference to thank his supporters prior to his departure, Mr Russo said.
Dr Haneef's legal team were not privy to a deal between the former Gold Coast hospital registrar and the Nine Network to conduct an exclusive interview before his departure on Saturday.
Subject: Charging Dr Haneef damage Aust Government 
