Convicted criminals deported back to New Zealand at the rate of more than one a day

THE Australian Government has ordered the deportation of 600 New Zealanders in the past 16 months, among them bikies like Ko Rutene (pictured), as well as murderers and rapists.

File photo of former Lance Corporal Ko Rutene, (also known as Ngati Kanohi Te Eke Haapu) presently detained in Casurina Maximum Security Prison in Perth because he failed character tests as a memeber of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, photographed on a cordon around the central city after the 6.3 earthquake, Chritschurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, February 22, 2011. Credit: Pam Johnson/SNPA

• LAST YEAR: UNWELCOME KIWI CRIMS DEPORTED
• TURNBULL IN TALKS WITH NZ PRIME MINISTER OVER DEPORTATIONS

CONVICTED murderers, rapists and outlaw bikies are among 600 New ­Zealanders who have had their visas torn up in the past 16 months.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has ordered the deportation of more than one criminal Kiwi a day since he was appointed to the border security portfolio in December 2014.

Some New Zealand MPs claim their compatriots are “petty criminals” who have been harshly dealt with, but The Daily Telegraph has ­obtained documents which show the majority are hardened criminals who have committed violent offences.

Former soldier Ko Rutene had his visa torn up due to his membership of the Rebels Motorcycle Club.

Documents of visa cancellations show three are convicted murderers, 14 are rape and sexual assault offenders, 70 have committed armed robberies, 33 jailed for grievous bodily harm, 64 had drug convictions and more than 200 convicted of assault or other violent offences.

Almost 50 are members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Foreign criminals automatically have their visas cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act if they are sentenced to a jail term of a year or more, and also if they are a member of a bikie gang and suspected of criminal activity.

Recently, several New Zealand-born members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang have been deported, including former soldier Ko Rutene.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has previously raised concerns with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop about Kiwis being held in detention centres while awaiting outcomes of appeals.

And last week, New Zealand’s opposition justice spokesman Kelvin Davis flew to Sydney to take part in a bizarre protest against the tough laws.

Mr Davis boarded a protest bus and travelled from Sydney to the Gold Coast with family members of those facing deportation to complain about the treatment of Kiwi criminals.

Mr Davis took part in the protest after arriving at Villawood Detention Centre on Thursday to visit detainees, ­despite only providing three days notice of his visit.

Recently, several New Zealand-born members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang have been deported, including former soldier Ko Rutene.

Last year, Mr Davis described the Kiwis who had their visas cancelled as “people you’d have a beer with in the pub”.

Mr Dutton last week provided an update of Australia’s border security operations and highlighted how the mandatory cancellations had helped to clean up Australian streets.

“We’ve been able to not only secure our borders, but also make our community a safer place by cancelling the visas of 84 motorcycle gang members and well over 1000 people in total, including people who have committed rapes, robberies and other offences,’’ he said.

Cartoonist Warren Brown’s view.