Alex Hawke, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, has confirmed that Vishal Jood, an Indian student who has served a six-month criminal sentence in an Australian prison, has been assisted to depart Australia “to protect Australians from non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct”.
In a strongly worded statement, the Minister acknowledged Australia’s Hindu and Sikh community leaders for their efforts to build cross-community unity.
The statement said, “Following his release from custody, the Australian Government immediately assisted an Indian national to depart Australia on the first available flight to India. The man was an unlawful non-citizen at the time of his arrest.”
“The Morrison Government takes very seriously its responsibility to protect Australians from non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct. We will always act decisively to protect our community.”
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“Attempts to undermine Australia’s social cohesion will not be tolerated.”
“I am pleased that this unfortunate event has seen our resilient local Hindu and Sikh communities unite. In particular I want to thank community leaders who have worked hard to support their communities in the face of these unfortunate events. Their efforts to build cross-community unity and resilience against the attempts by a small minority to incite discord and disharmony have demonstrated the importance and benefit of our nation’s strong social cohesion.”
Vishal Jood, arrested in April for acts of violence in Sydney’s Harris Park, was sentenced to twelve months in prison by a Parramatta Court in Sydney in September. The sentence carries a six-month non-parole period. Jood became eligible for parole on 15 October, after serving six months of his prison term. As soon as he was released on parole, he was detained by immigration authorities to be processed for deportation.
The Minister has now confirmed that Jood was sent on the first available flight to India, following his release on parole.
