SENATOR CALVERT -Like many Australians, I was concerned-and I think we were all concerned-to learn that one of the individuals who was associated with the death of that very eminent heart surgeon, Victor Chang, actually had a criminal record and, indeed, had criminal connections that were well known overseas. Under those circumstances-and I guess it might be an isolated case- how does such an individual gain access to this country? Do you have any idea of the incidence of this sort of thing happening and, as a result of the Victor Chang tragedy, have you changed your procedures as a result of that?

MR CONYBEARE -By way of preface to the Department's response, to be provided by Mr Bugden, the Department does take this range of issues extremely seriously. Government is of course concerned about the possible use of Australia's entry programs for access to Australia by undesirable elements. A whole range of most practicable procedures have been employed in conjunction with international overseas police forces to see that the maximum screening practicable is in place. The Minister is keen to ensure that more is being done by the Department in that area. I will just ask Mr Bugden to pursue some detail.

MR BUGDEN -Several of the people involved in this particular incident came into Australia as visitors. As you are probably aware, we get about two million visitors to Australia each year and it is just not possible to carry out checks on each and every one of those people. We rely on them completing an application form where they make a declaration, and there are penalties imposed should people make a false declaration. We have in place electronic systems that help us vet people when they apply to come to Australia. As Mr Conybeare said, we are looking now at improving our databases to pick up more information. We are in touch with our colleagues in the Australian Federal Police with the request that they widen their net to help us identify potential criminals who may have an interest in coming to Australia. If we get that information we are able to stop them from coming to Australia, so it is a question at this stage of broadening our collections of data that we have on people who do have the potential to commit those sorts of crimes. It is just not possible for our Department to collect all that information on its own, so we have approached the AFP for assistance.

SENATOR CALVERT -I guess like most people I was quite surprised, when one of those culprits managed to escape back to Malaysia, how its police force managed to pick him up. I would have thought with a population like that and the similarity of appearance that it would have been easy. Asians do stand out a bit more in Australia than they would do in Malaysia. I have just got a general concern.

I accept your advice and your explanation, but you do believe at the moment that you are doing everything you can to minimise the likelihood of people who have had criminal connections which were well known overseas for some reason or other being able to infiltrate into Australia?

MR BUGDEN -That is the concern we are trying to address with the Australian Federal Police.

DR KEMP -Is it a fact that one of the visa conditions for the officials from the South African women's netball team, when they recently visited Australia for the world championships, was that they did not talk to the press?

MR CONYBEARE -We would have to take that question on notice.

DR KEMP -Following media interest in the officials when they were in Australia , were they visited at their motel by officers from the Department and told that should they respond to media questions they would be deported?

MR CONYBEARE -I would prefer to take that question on notice as well, except to say that, in the case of that question as well as the earlier one, I would be very surprised if there was a requirement built into any visa issued that the applicant should not have contact with the press. There are various arrangements involving potentially controversial visitors, applicants for entry into Australia, where, in the interests of ensuring that the visitor does not create communal and other tensions in Australia, public activities be minimised by the applicant. That is as far as I would want to make comment at this stage, though, without knowing about this particular case.

DR KEMP -That would be more in the terms of an advice rather than a condition of visa entry?

MR CONYBEARE -No. It could be a condition of visa issue.

DR KEMP -I would appreciate it if you could check out that particular case.

MR CONYBEARE -Yes, we take that on notice.

DR KEMP -Was the promoter of the Commonwealth Bank cycle classic recently contacted by officials from the Department and told that the Department has not yet lifted restrictions on the entry of South African sportspeople following media speculation in South Africa on a team of riders competing in the classic?

MR CONYBEARE -We will take that on notice too, please.