Extra Australian immigration checks to protect children from paedophiles

September 14 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Criminal checks for Australian immigration

Australian immigration: new criminal checks

Australian immigration authorities are to carry out mandatory criminal history checks on anyone looking to obtain an Australian visa for overseas-born children they are adopting.

Anyone hoping to sponsor a foreign bride with children to allow them to move to Australia will also have to undergo criminal checks.

The changes to the visa to Australia rules are being brought in this week in an attempt to protect children coming to live in Australia from potential paedophiles. The moves are also intended to help prevent people trafficking.

The changes are coming about following concerns dating back as far as 2005, that known sex offenders were sponsoring immigrant women under the spouse visa scheme in order to prey on their children after they have made the move to Australia.

Now, some 6,000 people each year are expected to have to provide proof that they are not a threat to children before spouse visas or adoption visas are granted.

Australian immigration minister Chris Evans explained, “Children who come to Australia deserve our protection and these changes will make sure that pedophiles cannot adopt a child or sponsor a partner with a child."

The checks will use information held on the Australian National Child Offender Register to confirm sponsorship applications are genuine and from non-offenders.

See the latest Immigration News