Following the Australian Government’s cancellation of Bangalore doctor Mohammed Haneef’s visa on Monday on the grounds that he had failed a character test, Australians have started using internet discussion forums and blogs to react to the move.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Kevin Andrews — who announced the cancellation despite a Brisbane magistrate granting Haneef bail earlier in the day — and the government as a whole have been criticised by many bloggers.

Calling the move an abuse of the criminal justice system, they alleged a political motive behind the cancellation.
The move is being seen by some as an attempt by the government to muster a tough-on-terror image, ahead of the Australian federal elections. “Andrews’ summary judgement is further proof of the Liberal government’s descent in totalitarianism,” a blogger said.

“This kind of poisonous misuse of political power is not what this country is about. Haneef should have rights,” commented a blog browser. “In my view, the only person to fail a character test was Kevin Andrews,” said another.  “Bring on the election so that we can consign Andrews, Howard, Ruddock and their Orwellian ilk to the dustbin of history,” was how one blogger reacted to the cancellation. Some have also vowed to change their vote against the government.

Sarcasm against the allegedly flimsy charges against Haneef was the order of the day in some of the blogs. A comment read, “A SIM card to a relative when you are leaving the country for good, more than a year before any criminal act now make you a terrorist? Please!!!” Another blogger said, “Even if found innocent, he will probably still be booted out of the country. Can anyone honestly say this is fair?”However, there’s also a counter contention by some netizens that the government was justified in making the detention move, because Australia — a country not used to terror — had to “play it safe”.