But, the Immigration Department is uncertain about what to do with the cases where persons are seeking renewal of immigration documents, but their files are missing, or the source documents look suspicious.
The new director is hoping to clean things but, she says that there are a number of files sitting on her desk and she has no idea what to do them. She told the Senate Committee today that she wants to see what they have to say on how to proceed with these types of applications:
Hon. Mark Lizarraga - Business Senator
"In the cases where you have found documents to be false in your time since you've been there, have you taken away status? What have you done?"
Diana Locke - Director of Immigration
"I cannot take away status from anyone, especially if you hold a passport with nationality. That - as I said, a decision has to be taken at another level as to what happens from there. We have basically - "
Hon. Mark Lizarraga
"But you have found cases?"
Diana Locke
"Yes, we have."
Hon. Mark Lizarraga
"And those cases, are on hold."
Diana Locke
"Are on hold. Nothing can be done. No passports can be issued, no certificates can be renewed, nothing. They're just sitting there."
Hon. Mark Lizarraga
"Awaiting the decision of the minister? Is that it?"
Diana Locke
"I wouldn't necessarily say just the decision of the minister. We are looking at this document. They're people who are listening to the comments that are made here. Clearly, I would like to see the recommendations that come from the Senate Select Committee in this respect. I don't think it's something that the department on its own can fix."
Hon. Mark Lizarraga
"But the policy right now is - or the practice right now is that if you identify a document that is flawed, that is missing source documents, or you suspect, you've put it on hold."
Diana Locke
"Yes."
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