New Zealand-born Gunggarri man Brendan Thoms was released in February after a High Court ruling and says he was placed on anti-psychotic medication and subjected to 'inappropriate comments' about his Aboriginality.
Brendan Thoms is suing the Australian Government for $4.1 million over its unlawful bid to deport him and holding him in immigration detention for 500 days.The High Court has ruled that Indigenous people cannot be deportedMr Thoms, a New Zealand-born Gunggarri man who was released in February afterHe lived in Australia from age six, but never became a citizen.
"The next step is really holding the Government in both cases accountable for their decision to unlawfully detain both of our clients, who were subject to incredible humiliation and stress while detained for a considerable period of time," Ms Gibbs said. Court documents show Mr Thoms, of Brisbane, is claiming $2.7 million in general damages, $1.3 million in aggravated damages and almost $75,000 in economic loss.
Born to an Australian mother and a New Zealand father, Mr Thoms is a native title holder as a member of the Gunggari people of south-west Queensland.after serving part of an 18-month jail sentence for a domestic violence assault. The 41-year-old has filed more evidence of his ancestry, with a ruling to be made by the Federal Court.
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