Calabrian mafia boss Francesco Madafferi another Administrative Appeals Tribunal shame
THE overturning of rapist Carl Stafford’s deportation order isn’t the first time the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has saved a dangerous criminal from being kicked out of Australia.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE overturning of rapist Carl Stafford’s deportation order — revealed by the Herald Sun recently — isn’t the first time the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has saved a dangerous criminal from being kicked out of Australia.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturns deport order for Carl Stafford to return to New Zealand
Son of mafia figure Francesco Madafferi charged over alleged home invasion
It also rescued Melbourne Calabrian mafia boss Francesco Madafferi, later jailed for 10 years following the world’s biggest ecstasy bust.
Just as Stafford went back to violent crime soon after the AAT gave him another chance, Madafferi was dealing drugs in a major way within months of being allowed to stay here.
In the recent case of New Zealand-born Stafford, 42, the AAT allowed the pervert to stay despite him having racked up 365 convictions over three decades of violent offending.
The reversal by the AAT of Stafford’s 2013 visa cancellation meant he was free to stay in Australia and rape a woman after breaking into her St Kilda home in 2015.
In the case of Madafferi, in 2000 the AAT overturned the Immigration Department’s decision to refuse his application for permanent residency.
It did so despite Madafferi having failed to reveal convictions in Italy for stabbings, extortion and drug offences.
At the time of the controversial AAT decision in 2000, there was an outstanding warrant for Madafferi’s arrest in Italy, where he was facing a lengthy jail term on unserved sentences for violence and dishonesty offences.
Madafferi had also served jail time in Italy for kidnapping, mafia conspiracy, theft and other offences.
Despite that shocking record, the AAT set aside the decision to refuse Madafferi permanent residency.
The Herald Sun described the Madafferi decision by the then AAT deputy president Alan Blow as “incomprehensible”.
“His reasons for deciding in favour of Madafferi were the adverse effects a refusal would have on his children and their mother — the Australian he wed after overstaying his visitor’s visa,” the Herald Sun editorial said.
“This decision seems to have stemmed from misplaced compassion. Most Australians would prefer the AAT to put the public interest first.”
In the recent Stafford case, the AAT refused to deport him, saying Australia must take responsibility for letting Stafford down.
AAT senior member John Handley said welfare agencies should have intervened to help Stafford avoid a life of crime.
Just as Stafford went back to violent crime soon after the AAT gave him another chance, Madafferi was dealing drugs in a major way within months of being allowed to stay in Australia.