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Mrs Julia Kirsty Martin in Fresia
Torino
Italy
27th February 2004
To: The Committee Secretary
Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Dear Sir/Madam,
This submission is in response to the invitation for public comment as part of the Committee''s Inquiry into Australian Expatriates.
Current Residence
Currently residing in Turin , Italy
-1 year travelling The United Kingdom
Family Situation
Husband and I. We have no children.
Parents and siblings
I was born and grew up in Temora N.S.W. My Mother and Father were born in the United Kingdom and migrated in 1965 and my father died in the Mascot aircrash in 1980 . My Mother now lives in Bathurst. My Brother who also holds dual nationality and his family live in Sydney.
Citizenship
I hold both British and Australian passports, and have found this situation advantageous, living in Europe,
As an Australian i feel i have the right to have a say in my country and i would like to be able to maintain my right to vote, why are you only able to maintain an entitlement to vote for 6 years . I am on the understaning that an Italian living in Australia has the right to vote in Australia and also in Italy. Where as an Australian living in Italy who has the right to vote in Italy can not vote in Australia.
Challenges of different cultures and laws
Law
The law in Italy is based on civil law and is quite different from the common law in Australia And the United Kingdom . The laws in Italy can be very difficult to understand.
A big proble that I faced was the driving situation , Should a person with an Australian Drivers Licence wish to obtain an Italian Drivers Licence in Italy, they are made to give up their Australian Licence as there is currently no reciprocal agreement. However am led to belive that an Italian who lives in Australia is allowed to obtain an Australian licence and keep their Italian licence at the same time.
At this point i do not drive and i renew my drivers licence when it expires this year I am considering changing it to a British Licence which will allow me to drive in Italy and can be changed back to an Australian Licence if we move to Australia.
Cultural perspective
The experience of living with people of different cultures can result in both a broadening and narrowing of the mind. leading to a greater understanding that the Anglo-Saxon point of view on issues is not necessarily the right or only perspective.
Being abroad offers an exciting chance to expand personal boundaries and career opportunities, widen travel horizons, and better appreciate and promote our shared values and common goals. It intensifies the appreciation of what it is to be Australian.
By enumerating our concerns and some of the problems faced, we hope the path may be easier for those who follow.
In Italy.
Unfortunately there are not that many Australian companies and support networks in Italy. Although there are Australian expatriates residing here, support networks and opportunities in relation to employment and advancement could be improved.
Difficulty re Visas and Work Permits
Visa issues, work permits in Italy
I had visa problems from the first day I arrived in Italy. Despite the friendship and trading relationship between the two countries, I spent years trying hard to obtain my permission to stay on my Australian passport After two years I applied for my british passport and everything ran more or less smoothly after that. Holding a British passport has numerous advantages while living and travelling in Europe.
I did apply for Italian Nationality after the new Dual citizenship law became active in April 2003 and I am at a stand still as I am still waiting for documents to arrive from the various Australian offices.
Specific ways I contribute to Australia while abroad
I provide:
- Tourist information about Australia to people who contact me .
- I give Talks about Australia to schools and social groups
- I have helped Australians with applying for visas here in Italy also giving them Tourist information on Italy .
Personal Experience with Australian Missions Overseas
Unfortunately I am unable to provide positive feedback on the Australian Embassy in Rome and the Australian Consulate in Milan. My dealings with the embassy whilst enqiuring for a spouse visa for my Italian husband to come to Australia were negative. When we called the embassy more often than not we would have to hold for hours on end only to have the phone answered and be told we would have to personally come to the embassy for more information. This meant a trip from Turin So while in Rome for business my Husband called into the Embassy where he was promptly told to Telephone and all the information would be given to him over the Telephone . After telephoning again we were told that we would be sent an information pack in the post and we are still waiting for this to arrive ( this all took place in November 2003).
As for the Consulate in Milan I find the staff to be very rude and brisk towards people who either call into the office or Telephone and I have never been satisfied with the information given. On obtaining documents for my Wedding i had to make numerous trips to Milan as I would Telephone asking for information only to be told that the information could not be given over the telephone that i had to come to the consulate in person. I would send in documents to be verified and /or Translated and I would recieve a telephone call asking me to come and pick them up as they could not post them in the post even if I had already paid for the necessary translations icluding also postage costs as i was asked to do.
All in all my feed back about the Australian missions here in Italy is not a positive one and i hope that in the future improvments will be made.
Educational programs Overseas vs Australia
Due to the fact that my Australian Qualifications are not recognised here in Italy.
I have very little choice on furthering my professional and Educational qualifications than otherwise by correspondance via the United Kingdom and/ or Australia.
I hope that these and similar considerations are the kind of thing your commission would like to examine and I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity of contributing to the Committee's Inquiry into Australian Expatriates.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs Julia Kirsty Martin in Fresia
Southern Cross Group Co ordinator for Italy
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