Quadriplegic software developer denied Australian visa

November 17 2009 by Liam Clifford

Australia at the centre of an immigration conundrum.

Despite a shortage of IT workers in Australia, a successful software developer from South Africa has been blocked from moving to Australia because he is quadriplegic.

Australian immigration officials reportedly claim that Ryan Dekker would be a burden to the country’s economy. Dekker disagrees and has even weaned himself off the medication he takes to prevent him having to use the Australian health system.

Dekker was shot in the spine ten years ago, leaving him having to use a wheelchair. However, he has since become a Springboks wheelchair rugby player and can drive a car.

His next fight is to move to Australia. He has applied under the Skilled Independent Visa category, but has been blocked as Australian immigration officials deemed his health costs to total A$460 a year.

Dekker is campaigning for the decision to be overturned, claiming that in South Africa he ‘competes’ with walking people. "They can't do my job better than me. In my own country, I don't even use public health care. I pay for private health care or medical insurance. I don't even use any state benefits,” he added.

Dekker’s case is being backed by Professor Ron McCullum, the incoming chairman of the UN committee on the rights of people with disabilities.

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