Coetzee (Migration)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the application of Ms. Coetzee, a New Zealand citizen, for a Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa. The primary dispute concerned Ms. Coetzee's criminal history, which had been a factor in the initial refusal of her visa application.

The AAT was required to determine whether Ms. Coetzee met the character requirements for the visa, specifically in light of her criminal record. This involved assessing the nature and seriousness of her past offending and whether it rendered her an unsuitable candidate for the visa.

In its reasoning, the AAT acknowledged the importance of the character provisions under the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth) and the relevant regulations. The Tribunal considered the information provided, including an Australian Federal Police certificate submitted during the review process. The AAT found that the matter should be remitted to the Department of Home Affairs for further consideration, indicating that the initial decision was not to be affirmed on the basis of the material then before the Tribunal.