1816720 (Refugee)

The applicant, a citizen of Indonesia, sought review of a decision by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs to refuse to grant a protection visa. The applicant claimed to be a leader of a Catholic youth group who had experienced clashes with local Muslim groups, and later alleged discrimination based on his Chinese ethnicity and Catholic religion, including in education and employment. He also recounted a personal incident involving his adopted sister's boyfriend, which led to his arrest and subsequent payment of a bribe.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the applicant had established that he would suffer significant harm, as defined by the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth), if returned to Indonesia. This required the court to assess the credibility of the applicant's claims and determine if the alleged discrimination and personal circumstances met the threshold for harm, considering the available country information.

The court considered the applicant's initial claims regarding his involvement with a Catholic youth group and subsequent allegations of discrimination based on ethnicity and religion. It also examined the incident involving his adopted sister's boyfriend and the subsequent legal consequences for the applicant. Applying the principles of refugee law, the court evaluated whether the evidence presented demonstrated a real chance of significant harm. The court found that while the applicant had experienced societal discrimination, it did not reach the level of serious harm contemplated by the *Migration Act*. The court also noted the passage of time and the changed circumstances regarding his adopted sister's relationship.

The court affirmed the decision under review, finding that the applicant had not established a well-founded fear of persecution or significant harm.