Repeat domestic violence offender deported to New Zealand
Two people a week convicted of domestic violence are deported from Australia with a repeat offender the latest to lose his bid to remain in Australia. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruling it was in the couple’s best interest to separate them.
NSW
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A man convicted of domestic violence is being deported back to New Zealand after a tribunal ruled he was a “risk to women” — despite his partner saying she still wanted to be with him.
Wayne Zoing was sent to prison for throwing his girlfriend to the ground before kicking her, although he had also racked up a long list of other, earlier offences.
Now he is set to be deported to his homeland of New Zealand after he lost his appeal against a visa cancellation in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal last week.
In affirming the decision, the Tribunal declared the deportation was in “the interests of both” and the relationship should end.
Zoing is among an average of two visa-holders being deported from Australia each week for serious domestic violence offences.
The latest federal government figures show more than 670 violent partners have been thrown out of Australia since migration laws relating to character were amended in December 2014.
The Tribunal heard the dual New Zealand and Fiji citizen arrived in Australia with his grandfather aged 16, working at a poultry farm in Griffith after finishing his HSC.
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After meeting his girlfriend at her mother’s home during a social gathering, the couple quickly moved in together.
Around the same time, he began getting in trouble with the law with his early offences including damaging private property and breaching an apprehended violence order (AVO) that had been taken out on behalf of his girlfriend’s mother.
The following year, he was convicted of driving while suspended and illegally possessing marijuana.
The crime spree continued in 2018 with Zoing again destroying property, resisting arrest and again contravening an AVO.
However, it was his assault of his partner in the street and breaking in to a women’s refuge that led him to jail.
The Tribunal heard the assault followed a heated argument with Zoing “pushing her to the ground”, causing her to sustain facial lacerations before also kicking her.
Zoing also trespassed into the property of a female neighbour and intimidated her, after she tried to protect the girlfriend.
He was sentenced in two separate courts for the offences, including one year with a non-parole period of six months and 16 months with a non-parole period of six months.
The convictions led to the federal government cancelling Zoing’s visa in December last year on character grounds.
Despite the assault, the Tribunal senior member, Dr Nicholas Manetta, said Zoing’s girlfriend remained “committed to the relationship”.
Zoing also did not accept the relationship was over.
“Even though she has had quite some time to reflect on the deficiencies in her relationship with Mr Zoing, she remains committed to it notwithstanding the violence she has suffered,” Dr Manetta said.
“She candidly put to me that, if invited by Mr Zoing, she would return to live with him.”
Zoing also had not ruled out a “a resumption” of the relationship, describing his partner to the Tribunal as “my missus”.
In ruling in favour of the government, Dr Manetta described the assault as “very serious”.
“It is a crime of violence against a woman,” he said.
While Zoing should be given credit for having undertaken domestic violence training in prison, Dr Manetta said he believed he still posed a risk to women.
While deporting Zoing would end the relationship, Dr Manetta said he believed it was “in the interests of both” that it should cease.
Last month, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attacked Prime Minister Scott Morrison for “testing” the friendship between the two nations, accusing Australia of deporting “your people and your problems”.
Originally published as Repeat domestic violence offender deported to New Zealand
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