CAT/C/49/D/417/2010
that he was tortured in detention, and that the trauma associated with this torture was such
that he attempted suicide.
2.2
On 2 October 2002, the complainant arrived in Australia on a “676 Visitor Visa”
(short stay) for New Zealand and Australia. He then left Australia on 9 October 2002. On 1
October 2003, he came to Australia for the second time (second visit) on another short-stay
visa. On 10 October 2003, he applied for a Protection Visa on grounds of persecution as a
Falun Gong practitioner. His application was refused by an officer of the Department of
Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs on 24 December 2003.
2.3
The complainant filed an appeal with the Refugee Review Tribunal. On 24 March
2004, the Tribunal rejected the appeal in his absence. It noted that the complainant failed to
appear at a hearing scheduled on 18 March 2003, that he had advised the Tribunal that he
did not want to give oral evidence, and that he had further consented that the Tribunal
proceed to make a decision without his appearance. The complainant contends that he did
not wish to attend the above-mentioned hearing as he had learned that the migration agent
had fabricated some of the facts of his claim, and that he therefore feared to confront that
agent during the hearing. In the complainant’s absence, the Tribunal adopted a decision
refusing protection on the ground that the complainant’s application: (a) contained no
details about the nature of his practice of Falun Gong; (b) gave no details of how he became
organizer of his group; (c) lacked information about police violence; and (d) gave
insufficient details of the brainwashing he was allegedly subjected to for three months.
2.4
It was not until May 2007 (i.e.. three years after the Refugee Review Tribunal’s
decision) that the complainant applied for judicial review before the Federal Magistrates
Court of Australia, and explained that his migration agent had not given the correct factual
information about his claims. On 10 September 2007, the Court dismissed his application,
on the ground that the complainant would have had the chance to put the true facts to the
Refugee Review Tribunal if he had attended the hearing. The complainant’s appeal to the
Federal Court of Australia against the Federal Magistrates Court decision was dismissed on
12 December 2008. The complainant mentions that he did not apply to the High Court of
Australia for special leave to appeal the judgment of the Federal Court as it would not have
constituted an effective remedy, because the Federal Court had already determined it was
unable to consider merits arguments.
2.5
The complainant also sought seven ministerial interventions between 2004 and
2009, but all requests were refused. On 29 March 2010, his last ministerial intervention
request was also refused and he was informed that he would be removed at noon on 1 April
2010.
The complaint
3.
The complainant claims that if he were returned to China, he would be subjected to
torture and his forcible return would constitute a breach by Australia of his rights under
article 3 of the Convention.
State party’s observations on the admissibility and the merits
4.1
On 3 November 2011, the State party submitted that the complaint should be ruled
inadmissible as unsubstantiated or, should the Committee be of the view that the
complainant’s allegations are admissible, they should be dismissed as being without merit.
4.2
The State party further provides a summary of facts and allegations advanced by the
complainant. The complainant is a Chinese national who arrived in Australia on a subclass
676 (Tourist) visa in Australia on 2 October 2002. He departed Australia on 9 October 2002
and then re-entered Australia on 1 October 2003 on a subclass 676 (Tourist) visa. On 10
October 2003, the complainant applied to the immigration department for a Protection Visa
3