Minister seeks ‘briefing’ on rapist

KIM WATERS
FEDERAL Government is still considering whether to deport a Geelong rapist despite his deadline for explaining why he should stay passing more than two weeks ago, an official has confirmed.
The spokesperson for Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen said he had asked for an “urgent briefing” on Leslie Cunliffe, dubbed Geelong’s Silence of the Lambs rapist.
“Legally, this is a very delicate process,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ll let you know when we can say more.”
Mr Bowen agreed to review Cunliffe’s visa after community outrage at the 63-year-old leaving prison in May three years before the end of his 15-year sentence.
Mr Bowen said his “review” of Cunliffe’s case had noted that Australian visa-holders must satisfy Immigration Act character requirements to remain in the country.
Cunliffe was convicted of burglary, theft, larceny and receiving stolen goods before he sadistically raped a 21-year-old university student in Belmont during a botched 1999 extortion attempt.