Australian mother’s DV perpetrator granted full visa despite criminal record

A young Australian mother subjected to domestic violence while her partner was on a visa, has slammed the government for allowing him to stay in the country.

A young mother who was subjected to coercive control and abuse throughout her four year marriage to a man who was in the country on a temporary visa says she still lives in fear for her safety.

By the time the man was charged by police in May 2022, he had been granted permanent residency by the Department of Immigration.

He was eventually convicted on a string of domestic violence related offences in December 2022 including malicious property damage, common assault and actual bodily harm which occurred during two of her pregnancies.

However, his permanent visa was never revoked despite his criminal record, which also included a DUI conviction committed well before his relationship.

A domestic violence victim fears she could be next killed by her ex partner, who has been granted permanent residency in Australia despite his criminal record. Picture: Supplied

Under Australian law, if you commit domestic violence, it can lead to your visa being cancelled or refused because of “bad character”.

“The fact that we have laws, whether judicially in terms of the criminal system or migration acts, it seems completely useless since they’re not being applied,” the mother, whom we’ve not named to protect her safety, said.

“When I look at the statistics and women being killed, predominantly by former partners, I truly freak out and know the nightmare is truly not over for me.

“My ex might be inactive for the next year or so but the fear I have that he could one day come back is enormous, I mean nothing is stopping him,” she said.

“I still bear the scars and have complex PTSD from what happened to me and I’m constantly on the lookout no matter where I go.

“This isn’t a normal way of living and I shouldn’t have to live like this in my own country.”

A domestic violence victim fears she could be next killed by her ex partner, who has been granted permanent residency in Australia despite his criminal record. Picture: Supplied

Under Australian law, if you commit domestic violence, it can lead to your visa being cancelled or refused because of “bad character”.

A domestic violence case worker representing the woman wrote a 15-page report to the Department of Home Affairs in August 2023, urging the government to review the man’s permanent residency.

“The evidence that the Department now retains demonstrates (name redacted) extensive history of repeated, serious offending and signifies that the offences escalated in severe frequency and abhorrent reoffending of relentless abuse towards the vulnerable Australian sponsor,” the case worker wrote.

“The evidence demonstrates (name of perpetrator redacted) true character of coercive control, physical, emotional, psychological, financial and spiritual abuse which occurred during his time residing in Australia while obtaining his temporary and permanent residency visa approvals.

“He poses serious measurable risk of harm to the community for reoffending and in particular, is a serious risk to the primary victim of his domestic violence related offences who have been severely impacted on by the trauma of the extensive history of family and domestic violence.”

For now, the young mother has been left to bear the consequences from her violent and financially abusive relationship, while knowing her ex partner can continue to live freely in the country.

“Anyone I’ve spoken to, whether it be detectives, lawyers or advocacy services, all say that the system is broken,” she said.

“We don’t want dangerous people in our community and we want more rights for protection and safety given to citizens rather than non citizens. Why are we not prioritising the protection of citizens?.”

Department of Home Affairs were contacted for comment.