INDONESIAN CLAIMS BRITISH NATIONALITYO’KEEFE CASE

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1949, Page 7

INDONESIAN CLAIMS BRITISH NATIONALITY—O’KEEFE CASE

MELBOURNE, Feb. 16

A High Court writ was issued today by the solicitors of Mrs Annie O’Keefe, claiming that she is a British subject and that the Australian Minister of Immigration (Mr A. A. Calwell) has no power to deport her Several newspapers have opened funds to assist the O’Keefe’s in their action.

The writ names Mr Calwell, and the Commonwealth of Australia as defendants, and seeks an early hearing. The writ claims: (1) That Mrs O’Keefe —the Indonesian wife of an Australian—is a British and Australian subject; (2) that she. is not a migrant or prohibited immigrant within the meaning of the Immigration Act; and (3) that the provisions of the National and Citizenship Act do not refer to her. The Immigration Department has offered to pay the fares of Mrs O’Keefe and her family to any country which will permit their entry, provided they leave Australia of their own free will. The O’Keefe’s sav that they have no intention of voluntarily leaving Australia.