Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who was wrongly accused of links with the failed UK bombings, on Monday said he will return to Australia only if authorities assured him that his family and he would be "safe" in the country.
In an embarrassment to the Australian government, the federal court on Friday restored the work visa of Haneef, nearly five months after he was exonerated of terror charges.
New Labor Immigration Minister Chris Evans has said Haneef was entitled to return to work after the court verdict.
Speaking publicly for the first time since Friday's court verdict, Haneef on Monday said he would like to return to his job at the Gold Coast Hospital, but would not come to Australia without his wife and child.
He said he wanted to return to Australia to continue his medical training, as he was yet to find a job in India.
"I would say that we need reassurance from the authorities as well as the police that there wouldn't be any harm to us when we return back there to Australia," Haneef was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.
Haneef said while he was keen to return to Australia along with his family.
"I love my family and all my family, and live for my family. There's nothing above my family, not my job, not my career," he told AAP via phone from Saudi Arabia.
Haneef's visa was cancelled by the former Howard government on character grounds.
If he were to return to work in Australia, Haneef would need to get medical registration before being able to come into the country.
"My family has to agree to coming back to Australia otherwise there's no point in trying to get registered there," he said.
