ANDREW Derek Moore arrived from Scotland aged 11. Almost 30 years and a string of convictions later, Australia decided he had failed its character test and cancelled his visa.

He was sent "home" on October 20, leaving behind a teenage son and his extended family. Two days later he was found lying dead on a footpath. British police are asking why, and the Australian Government is denying any responsibility.

Moore's death has shone a spotlight on this country's practice of washing its hands of up to 70 people a year who are Australian in all but citizenship — and often seriously unwell.

Moore was a 43-year-old recovering alcoholic. Released at Heathrow Airport at 6am, he had $1000 cash, medication and a hotel booking. Unlike the tragic cases of Cornelia Rau and Vivian Alvarez Solon, he has attracted little sympathy because he was a convicted criminal.

Knowledge of Moore's death has spread among critics of migration policy, who see it as the most shocking example yet of heartless deportation.

Peshawa Shalley, a staff member at London's Central Park Hotel, said Moore checked out after a couple of days despite his ground-floor room being booked for a month.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to a block of flats 15 kilometres away in South Lambeth Road on October 23, where a seriously injured man was lying on the footpath outside.

Moore was pronounced dead soon after arriving at hospital. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive. The death is being treated as unexplained and detectives are investigating it, a New Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Moore was no angel. His problems with alcohol and the law began at the age of 14 and culminated in a conviction for manslaughter after he stabbed a drinking companion in a drunken brawl in 2000.

But his son, his parents, his siblings, nieces and nephews and ex-wife all fought to keep him in Australia, promising to support him if released. Moore's family have so far declined to comment on his death.

He was the subject of a talkback radio campaign in Melbourne before his deportation, when 3AW host Derryn Hinch said it was a "cynical, sick joke on the Australian public" that he had been allowed a TV set and a DVD player at Maribyrnong detention centre after escaping in May and turning himself in four months later.

He was being "treated like a VIP", said Hinch, and was left to "swan around in a blue bathrobe and treat the place like his own Ritz-Carlton".

A source familiar with Moore's case said he was wearing a dressing gown because he was chronically ill.

"His face was like a skull," the source said, his body racked by a failing liver, hepatitis C, fibromyalgia and bowel problems. "A puff of wind would have blown him over."

The source said the centre’s operations manager later apologised to Moore for the leaks, which he considered payback for his escape.

Refugee advocate and former ABC journalist John Highfield said criminal deportees attracted little sympathy, but the policy had far-reaching consequences. "It's beyond the criminals themselves. It’s a punishment on the families as well. Andrew has a 15-year-old son who is now grieving and wanted to be with his father despite his record."

Professor Louise Newman, director of the Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, said Moore’s death demanded a review of how the Immigration Department assesses the travel risk for deportees.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans' spokeswoman declined to comment,  saying deportations were an operational matter for his department.

An Immigration Department spokesman said Moore was assessed as fit to travel by International Health and Medical Services, was provided with medication and was due for a clinical review on October 26.

Heathrow Travel Care was supposed to meet Moore on arrival but was not available.

He had a destitute allowance of $700 and a $300 cold weather clothing allowance. Moore also contacted  a social services agency engaged by the Government called Prisoners Abroad.

"The department made all appropriate arrangements for his return," the department spokesman said. "The Government does not consider itself responsible for Mr Moore's untimely death and extends its condolences to his family and friends for their loss."

Senator Evans has said he is  determined to deport foreign-born residents convicted of serious crimes, no matter how long they have been here.
Until 1999, anyone who had lived in Australia for more than 10 years could not be deported. The Howard government toughened the test, then the Rudd Government  changed it in June, making the length of time a person has been in Australia a primary consideration.

But the University of New South Wales’ Dr Michael Grewcock, an expert in State and institutional crime, said the June changes had had no discernible effect.

Another boat carrying asylum seekers has been intercepted, the 51st this year. It was carrying  38 passengers and two crew. The  interception took place about 31 nautical miles north-west of Scott Reef. The group will be taken to Christmas Island

What about the immigrants who accept Australia as their home in declaration of citizenship only, but otherwise want everything else about Australia to be different to suit them? Can we deport them too?

If their intention is to change aussie when they took a citizenship oath, it was  false oath.

they can bugger off.