Success in court will not guarantee Haneef's return: lawyer

MELBOURNE: One of the lawyers representing Mohammed Haneef on Tuesday expressed fears the Indian doctor may be kept out of Australia regardless of the outcome of an appeal challenging the restoration of his visa.

Warning of the impact of politics on the legal system, Barrister Stephen Keim SC said success in the High Court may not be enough to guarantee his client's return to Australia because Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews could simply make a 'fresh political decision' and cancel Haneef's visa on different grounds.

"We can win in the High Court and the next day -- although knowing Andrews as I do, probably the same day -- Andrews will be free to seek another brief from law enforcement agencies and make a fresh political decision and cancel Haneef's visa," Keim said in his address to the National Conference of Community Legal Centres in Brisbane.

Haneef's lawyers last month won an appeal against Andrews' decision to cancel the Indian doctor's visa after he was cleared of terror-related charges.

The Federal Court judge hearing the trial ruled the minister had made a 'jurisdictional error' in canceling Haneef's visa on character grounds.

Andrews has appealed the decision.

Keim on Tuesday said without his visa, Haneef was 'basically crippled' because it limited his chances of travelling and working overseas, The Age reported.