House Hansard 22-Mar-2007 Page 201

Question

Mr McClelland (Barton) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 7 February 2007:

(1): On what date was Mr Peter Foster, who was in custody in Vanuatu, most recently issued with an Australian passport.
(2): What ‘good character’ requirements must be satisfied before an Australian passport is authorised for issue.
(3): Did the Government have any negative reports regarding Mr Foster’s character when he was most recently issued with an Australian passport; if so, what are those details.
(4): Is there a procedure for withdrawing an Australian passport if a citizen consistently displays evidence of bad character whilst overseas; if so, what are those details.

Answer

Mr Downer (Mayo—Minister for Foreign Affairs)—The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

(1): Mr Peter Foster was most recently issued with an Australian passport on 31 July 2003. His passport was cancelled on 5 February 2007 and he was granted a limited validity travel document to facilitate his return to Australia. That document was impounded on arrival in Australia.
(2): An Australian citizen is entitled to be issued with an Australian passport subject to the requirements of the Australian Passports Act 2005. The Act provides for a competent authority to request that a person who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued in Australia for an indictable offence or who is prevented from travelling internationally by force of a court order, parole or bail condition or direction under a law of the Commonwealth, should be refused issue of an Australian passport.
(3): According to passport records, Mr Foster was not subject to any legal restraint that would have prevented issue of a passport under the passport legislation in force at that time (Passports Act 1938).
(4): The Australian Passports Act 2005 provides the Minister with the power to cancel and/or refuse to issue a passport to a person at the request of a “competent authority” which suspects on reasonable grounds that a) the person is the subject of an arrest warrant issued in a foreign country in respect of a serious foreign offence, or b) the person is prevented from travelling internationally in connection with a serious foreign offence, or c) the person would be likely to engage in conduct that might prejudice security or endanger the health or physical safety of other persons in Australia or overseas.