EDGAR D'SOUZA (Australian permanent residence)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has followed up on the request by the Minister for Home Affairs to check on whether Edgar D'Souza has obtained Australian permanent residence and, if so, the grounds for it.

The Second Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): We did follow up on the Minister for Home Affairs' request for the information required by the Member.

On 1st December 1987, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote to the Australian High Commissioner in Singapore to ascertain whether Edgar D'Souza had applied for permanent residence in Australia and, if so, whether the application was granted, and under which scheme.

In a letter dated 21st December 1987, the Australian High Commissioner replied that he was unable to provide the specific information requested. He explained that this was because of the practice the Australian Government followed in respecting the privacy of individuals in their dealings with Australian Government authorities and agencies. The High Commissioner added that in accordance with the normal procedures followed in such matters, the authorities in Canberra had contacted Edgar D'Souza to seek his agreement to the disclosure of information as to whether he had been granted permanent residence status and if so on what basis. According to the Australian High Commissioner, Edgar D'Souza had declined to give such consent.

From the Australian High Commissioner's reply, it is quite clear that it was D'Souza's refusal to give consent that had prevented him from providing the information requested.