MORE than 400 foreign national criminals, including 10 convicted murderers, have been ordered to leave Australia under new mandatory deportation laws introduced in December.

The introduction of automatic cancellation of visas for visitors in Australia convicted of crimes has led to a 500 per cent increase in the number of people thrown out of the country the previous year.

In NSW 22 people were scheduled for deportation last month alone for a range of offences including murder, violent assault, rape, theft and child pornography.

Bikies and members of organised crime gangs featured prominently. It is understood a high number of cases involved New Zealand citizens.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government had taken a “zero tolerance” approach since legislation passed in December for automatic revocation of visas without appeal, replacing the previous system of ministerial cancellations.

media_camera Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

“I have zero tolerance for criminals who have harmed Australians,” Mr Dutton said.

“There is no room in Australia for foreign nationals who commit serious and often violent crimes.

“The Coalition government toughened the visa cancellation provisions of the law to remove those who engage in criminal activity or serious misconduct. This government will not shirk its responsibilities to protect the Australian community.”

The majority of cancellations were for “violent offences” followed by indecent assaults, drug offences, theft, aggravated burglary, assault and grievous bodily harm and child sex offences.

There are a number of crimes exempt from the legislation, including a range of white collar crimes.

The Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014 — which followed the lead of other countries, including the UK, in strengthening the character test for people applying for visas as well as dealing more swiftly with foreigners in Australia who committed crimes, was supported by Labor at the time.

“Labor has no tolerance for criminal behaviour,” Opposition Immigration spokesman Richard Marles said.

“Strengthening the character test has been crucial in enabling the government to refuse or cancel the visas of people who have committed crimes.”