A criminal with 35 convictions — all against female victims — is expected to be deported to New Zealand after having his visa cancelled by Australian immigration authorities under a new policy.
Glenn Taylor was initially spared deportation by Direction 99 in February, but the Administrative Appeal Tribunal’s ruling was overturned after Australia’s Government announced an overhaul of the controversial 501 policy.
Taylor was born in New Zealand but has lived in Australia since he was four years old. He has a history of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and assaulting at least two police officers.
Direction 99 prioritised a foreign national’s ties with Australia when making visa decisions.
However, that directive was revoked when Direction 110 came into effect on June 21. The new policy gives greater weight to community safety when appeals tribunals make decisions on visa cancellations.
An ‘unacceptable’ risk and likely to reoffend
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles reviewed Taylor’s visa under Direction 99 and cancelled it under Direction 110, stating Taylor was an “unacceptable” risk to the community and would likely reoffend.
Single mother-of-five, Jesica Mills, spoke to The Australian about living next to Taylor in 2022.
“None of us [her family and neighbours] could come outside because we were that scared … constantly having to be aware, keeping tabs on what he was up to,” she said.
“What we went through was traumatic. No family should have to go through what we went through. I believe he should have been deported. Not just because of what he put me through … it’s an extensive case with multiple victims.
“If there’s convictions again and again, when does the government say, ‘this person is not a good person in our country?'”
Taylor was now expected to be sent to New Zealand after being remanded at an immigration detention centre.
He would have the option to appeal the decision at the Federal Court. However, he would need to prove there was an error in Giles’ decision to cancel his visa.
