Panther has two days to prove his character 
By MEGAN SAUNDERS 
  July 15: The Federal Government has given black activist and 
convicted hijacker Lorenzo Ervin until tomorrow to prove he is of 
good enough character to remain in Australia on a speaking tour.

The Department of Immigration has given the former Black Panther 
and his solicitors until 4pm tomorrow to answer a questionnaire 
which includes the objectives of his visit to Australia and his 
work in America to combat racism and police brutality.

The latest move gives Mr Ervin the chance to answer government 
concerns about his character in accordance with the rules of 
natural justice and paves the way for the Government to revoke his 
visa a second time.

The Government was forced into a spectacular backdown last Friday 
amid High Court concerns that Mr Ervin had been denied natural 
justice which led to his release from a high-security Brisbane 
prison and a guarantee the Government would meet his legal costs.

Mr Ervin was jailed last Tuesday after acting Immigration Minister 
Amanda Vanstone found his criminal record indicated he was not of 
good enough character to remain in Australia where he had begun a 
speaking tour at the invitation of anarchist group angry People.

The controversy surrounding the Government's treatment of Mr Ervin 
last week sparked widespread protest from human rights groups and 
concern freedom of speech was being limited.

Last night a spokesman for the law firm representing Mr Ervin, Sean 
Whelan, said they would try to meet the deadline but had not yet 
received instructions from Mr Ervin, who was due to speak in 
Lismore in northern NSW last night.

"Now that more documentation has been issued it will obviously 
invoke some course of action from the Government and from us but 
we don't know what the course of action will be," he said. 

A spokesperson for the minister would not comment.