Aussie visa difficulties

I must comment on Max Lane's most interesting article in the Nov. 20 edition of The Jakarta Post where he wrote: "If you are from a poor country and are traveling to Australia, you are guilty of being an illegal immigrant seeking residence and work until you can prove yourself innocent. This policy must be changed to allow equal access for Indonesians to Australia as Australians have to Indonesia."

As an expatriate Australian living and working in Jakarta, I had first-hand experience of this inequity only recently. I had planned to take my Indonesian partner to Brisbane in early December and so we proceeded to apply for a visa. In her visa application, my friend included a letter from myself saying that we would be accommodated in Brisbane at my friend's house and that I was paying for all the costs associated with the trip. I provided the name and contact details of my friend in Australia. I also included another letter of recommendation from my employer (who knows my partner) and ticket details of our departing and returning flights were provided.

Her application was rejected on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence that she would be able to support herself in Australia. What can you say to that? I had even included my most recent payslip in my partner's application to show that I was earning more than sufficient U.S. dollars to cover the cost of our trip.

It is embarrassing to me as an Australian living in Indonesia to witness at first hand how our embassy devalues the citizens of this country. My partner has indeed been judged guilty of being potentially an illegal immigrant, perhaps because she does not have a U.S. dollar bank account. Suffice it is to say we won't be going to Australia this Christmas. Do I need to add that I didn't vote for John Howard?

SEAN REEVES

Tangerang, Banten