THE FAMILY of a slain baby is relieved the convicted killer has been deported, more than two months after he was ordered to return to Papua New Guinea.
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Christopher Hoerler, the PNG national who was convicted of manslaughter for killing seven-month-old Wagga baby Jordan Anderson-Smith in 2000, was released from Sydney's Long Bay prison by the NSW Parole Board on August 14 on the condition he be deported immediately.
But the Immigration Department confirmed only this week, more than two months after the order was handed down, Hoerler, 34, had finally been deported on Monday.
Jordan's family has welcomed the news, after repeated telephone calls and emails to the office of immigration minister Scott Morrison and requests with the restorative justice unit of NSW Corrective Services on Hoerler's status yielded little insight since the order.
"I don't think there'll ever be closure but it's a relief," Jordan's uncle Darcy Smith said.
Hoerler was twice refused parole by the State Parole Authority after his non-parole period of 10 years and nine months expired in July 2012.
Mr Smith was disappointed Hoerler was granted parole (due to expire in February 2016) in the first instance, but conceded his deportation was the next best option.
"If they released him back into the community, he could have been someone's neighbour," he said.
"Is that the type of neighbour you want, especially if you have young kids?
"Him being deported is the next best case scenario.
"We're just grateful for all the support across the community.
"People have stopped us in the shopping centre, it's been happening for years."
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack hoped Hoerler's deportation would offer the family some sense of relief.
"The family of baby Jordan has suffered too much for too long," he said.
"It was unfortunate that, due to legal processes, this was an extra burden they had to bear when all they wanted was that last bit of closure.
"Hopefully what must have been and will continue to be (a grieving time), this must at least give them some sense of relief."
Mr Morrison confirmed Hoerler's deportation to The Daily Advertiser via email on Wednesday.
"Once released on parole, the individual was detained as an unlawful non-citizen," he provided in a statement.
"Mr Hoerler was removed from Australia this week."
Mr Morrison said while appearing on Ray Hadley's national broadcast this morning that it was the most horrific of crimes.
"Those people don't have a place in this country," he said.
