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'''Kevin James Andrews''' (born [[9 November]] [[1955]]), Smells Strongly of [[Roquefort]] and Hate and is currently the [[Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)|Minister for Immigration and Citizenship]]. He was previously [[Minister (government)|Minister]] for Employment and Workplace Relations in the [[John Howard|Howard Government]] from [[7 October]] [[2003]] to [[30 January]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/biography.asp?id=HK5 | title = The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Member for Menzies (Vic) | work = House of Representatives - members - biography | publisher = Parliament of Australia | accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref>
'''Kevin James Andrews''' (born [[9 November]] [[1955]]), is an [[Australia|Australian]] politician and is currently the [[Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)|Minister for Immigration and Citizenship]]. He was previously [[Minister (government)|Minister]] for Employment and Workplace Relations in the [[John Howard|Howard Government]] from [[7 October]] [[2003]] to [[30 January]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/biography.asp?id=HK5 | title = The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Member for Menzies (Vic) | work = House of Representatives - members - biography | publisher = Parliament of Australia | accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref>
Andrews has been a [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] member of the [[Australian House of Representatives]] since a 1991 by-election, representing the [[Division of Menzies]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. He was born in [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]], Victoria, and was educated at [[Melbourne University]] and [[Newman College (University of Melbourne)|Newman College]], [[Melbourne]]. Furthermore, he was to complete a Master of Laws (LLM) at [[Monash University]]. He was a [[barrister]] before entering politics.
Andrews has been a [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] member of the [[Australian House of Representatives]] since a 1991 by-election, representing the [[Division of Menzies]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. He was born in [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]], Victoria, and was educated at [[Melbourne University]] and [[Newman College (University of Melbourne)|Newman College]], [[Melbourne]]. Furthermore, he was to complete a Master of Laws (LLM) at [[Monash University]]. He was a [[barrister]] before entering politics.


Revision as of 10:12, 24 August 2007

The Hon. Kevin Andrews
The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Assumed office
30 January, 2007
Preceded byAmanda Vanstone
ConstituencyMenzies
Majority10.7%
Personal details
Bornthumb
9 November 1955
Sale, Victoria
Diedthumb
250px
Resting placethumb
250px
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
SpousesMargaret
Parent
  • thumb
  • 250px
Websitehttp://www.kevinandrews.au.com

Kevin James Andrews (born 9 November 1955), is an Australian politician and is currently the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. He was previously Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations in the Howard Government from 7 October 2003 to 30 January 2007.[1] Andrews has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since a 1991 by-election, representing the Division of Menzies in Victoria. He was born in Sale, Victoria, and was educated at Melbourne University and Newman College, Melbourne. Furthermore, he was to complete a Master of Laws (LLM) at Monash University. He was a barrister before entering politics.

Andrews was Co-ordinator of Continuing Legal Education for the Law Institute of Victoria from 1981 to 1983, and an Associate to Sir James Gobbo, Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, from 1983 to 1985.

Factional membership

Kevin Andrews is a key member of the Lyons Forum, a Christian, socially conservative faction within the Federal Coalition. He has served as the Forum secretary and is credited with suggesting the name for the faction.[2][3]

Euthanasia Laws Bill

As a backbencher, Andrews authored a bill which later overrode Northern Territory legislation that legalised euthanasia (ie. the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995). Andrews' Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996 is one of only fifteen Private Member's Bills implemented as law in Australian Parliamentary history and the second in ten years.

Ministerial Appointments

Andrews was Minister for Ageing from 26 November 2001 to 7 October 2003. His subsequent role as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, saw him responsible for introducing the Howard Government's major changes to industrial relations law in 2005, commonly known as WorkChoices. In a reshuffle in early 2007, Andrews was made Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Role in Dr Mohamed Haneef Affair

In his role as Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Andrews acted to revoke the visa of Mohamed Haneef on character grounds.[4] Although he was acting according to his interpretation of the Migration Act, his actions, which coincided with the granting of bail to Haneef by a Brisbane Magistrates court, effectively forced Haneef to not produce a bail which would have resulted in him being transferred from Brisbane's Wolston Correctional Centre, to Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre.[5][6] According to Section 503 of the Migration Act, there is no recourse for determining the reasons behind the revoking of the visa.[7] Andrews still claims, after the dropping of all charges by the Department of Public Prosecution, that his personal evidence was valid.[4][8] Andrew's refusal to reinstate Haneef's visa has resulted in calls for a public inquiry into the incident by Peter Beattie and the media.[9][10] [11] His actions were seen as irrational given the circumstances including his continued refusal to refer to his actions as being linked to the Brisbane Magistrate Court proceedings, in which charges were completely dropped on July 27. Further, his statement about Haneefs intentions for seeing his family in India being a confession of guilt were seen as verging on paranoia.[12]

In a TV program on July 29, [Andrews] stated that Haneef's lawyers had indicated that Haneef "wanted to get out of Australia as soon as possible", and offered the comment: "If anything that rather heightens, rather than lessens, my suspicions." Given that Haneef, while in Australia, had been incarcerated, painted by Andrews as someone from whom the community needed to be protected, and separated from his wife and baby daughter, no rational person would see anything sinister in his desire to head for his home.[12]

Mr Andrews justified his decision on the basis that he had a reasonable suspicion that Dr Haneef had associated with suspected terrorists and therefore failed the test of good character that a person must pass to keep a visa. In rejecting the applicability of a previous Federal Court judgment—that of Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Chan (2001)[13][12] which was regarded as the judicial approval for the character test[14] —Justice Spender submitted:

I reject the submission by the Solicitor-General for the Minister that the "character test" which a person does not pass if the person has or has had an association with a person or group or organization that the Minister reasonably suspects has been or is involved in criminal conduct, does not involve any question about the character of the person.

In my opinion 501(6)(b) is a composite phrase and has to be construed as such. In my opinion it has the connotation that there is an alliance or link or combination between the visa holder with the persons engaged in criminal activity. That alliance, link, or combination reflects adversely on the character of the visa holder. Such a meaning would exclude professional relationships, or those which are merely social or familial. It would exclude the victim of domestic violence.[15]

In this judgment, Justice Spender also touched briefly on the larger issue of what powers the Executive should have in matters of national security.[16]

...there is no room for the view, sometimes uttered, that the executive should have exclusive responsibility over all matters involving national security.[15]

Advisor to Life Decisions International

Andrews is an Honorary Advisor to Life Decisions International (LDI),[17] a (non-denominational) religious[18] pro-life group that is primarily concerned with opposing the pro-choice Planned Parenthood organisation. Life Decisions International campaigns for chastity[19], boycotts corporations and names individual celebrities[20] who support abortion, euthanasia, or embryonic stem cell experimentation or who, in their opinion, support sexual promiscuity.[21] These include GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson, Time Warner and Disney.[22]

Andrews has downplayed the significance of his role, likening it to an honorary patronage. He has also been criticised for his failure to declare his wife's membership on LDI's Board of Advisors on his pecuniary interest register as legally required.[23]

References

  1. ^ "The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Member for Menzies (Vic)". House of Representatives - members - biography. Parliament of Australia. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  2. ^ "The Lyons Forum". Censorship and Free Speech. Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. 1998. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Bradford, John. "Autobiography". John Bradford, former Liberal MP representing Division of McPherson. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Dr Haneef" (Press release). Kevin Andrews MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  5. ^ Viellaris, Renee (18 July 2007). "Haneef moved to prison". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2007-08-23. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Roberts, Kathryn (18 July 2007). "Lawyers launch campaign to restore Haneef's visa". ABC News and Current Affairs#ABC Radio programs - PM. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  7. ^ Coorey, Phillip (18 July 2007). "India raises concern over detention". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Haneef decision due today". The Australian. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  9. ^ "Beattie wants Andrews carpeted over Haneef". News. Australian Broadcating Corporation. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  10. ^ "I was never a threat: Haneef". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  11. ^ Menon, Parvathi (29 July 2007). "Debate over detention, departure continues". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ a b c Kelly, Paul (4 August 2007). "Crisis of trust". Features. The Australian. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  13. ^ [2001] FCA 1552 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Chan
  14. ^ Faris QC, Peter (2007-08-21). "Peter Faris: a rubbish judgment that leaves the law an ass". Politics etc. Crikey. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b [2007] FCA 1273 Haneef v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
  16. ^ "Bringing Dr Haneef back into the fold of the law". Editorial. The Age. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  17. ^ "Boards of Directors/Advisors". About LDI. Life Decisions International. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  18. ^ "Prayer Project". Projects. Life Decisions International. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  19. ^ "Celebrating Chastity". Projects. Life Decisions International. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  20. ^ "Cel;ebrity Watch". Projects. Life Decisions International. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  21. ^ "Organization Watch". Projects. Life Decisions International. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  22. ^ "New Boycott Targets Named" (Press release). Life Decisions International. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  23. ^ Walsh, Kerry-Anne (7 August 2007). "Andrews in radical group that boycotts Disney". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-08-23. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Template:Incumbent succession box
Parliament of Australia

Template:Incumbent succession box

Preceded by
Bronwyn Bishop
Minister for Aged Care
 Minister for Ageing
2001–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2003 – 2007 		Succeeded by


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