The spotlight is again on the Australian Immigration Department as two Canadians and one European, scheduled to compete in a World Championship motor sport event in Melbourne next weekend have been denied entry into Australia because they are members of a motorcycle club.

The "Easyriders Top Fuel World Championship" is a world first in drag racing that has been brought to Australia by the American Drag Bike Association, Inc., which is based in Tennessee, USA. Spokesperson for the ADBA, Mr. Peter Salmon, said, "the drag racing community in Australia is extremely embarrassed by the actions of the Australian Immigration Department." Mr. Salmon an Australian himself, and part owner of the ADBA, spoke of how the event had excited motor sport fans throughout the world. "This has made a joke of Australia’s immigration policy, particularly in the light of all the illegal entries to our northern shores plus the issues associated with allowing suspected Nazi war criminals entry. These guys travel freely throughout the rest of the world yet we have denied them entry to compete in this three race series here in Australia because the immigration authorities believe "the protection of the Australian community would be best served if Mr. Houniet was refused a visa to enter Australia". I am truly an embarrassed Australian," said Salmon.

The competitor from Europe applied for his visa back in October when he was informed he had won the right to participate in the event. The Immigration Department waited until two weeks prior to his departure to notify him he was going to be denied a visa under the act and was required to respond in writing to particular sections of the act. This notification was a 22-page copy of the act written in English for him to respond too. Mr. Been only speaks English as his written communication has always been in his native language Dutch.

"The Easyriders Top Fuel World Championship has nothing to do with any motorcycle club or any other organization; it is an international sporting event. I can not see how Australia can now be considered by any other promoter for future international events if participants are treated in this way, will this happen at the Olympics? Upon reflection, maybe we should have put them on a boat from Asia and then maybe they would have been granted temporary visas" said Salmon.

The ADBA is hoping that with public pressure the Minister may be able to re-consider these cases, as perhaps persons in his Department may have been misinformed as to the reason for their visa applications.

Letters of protest can only be effective this weekend and can be addressed and forwarded to:

• Philip Ruddock MP
  Parliament House - Suite MF 40
  Canberra, ACT 2600
  Telephone: 61 2 6277 7680 - Fax: 61 6273 4144
  E-mail submission@immi.gov.au

• Or Mr. John Ryan telephone 61 2 6264 1765

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