Good news everyone! According to a government source via the Sydney Morning Herald, the Biloela family currently detained on Christmas Island will likely be released within days.
Earlier today, a source told the publication that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is expected to make an announcement regarding the government’s decision on whether to intervene in the Morguppan family’s bid to remain in Australia.
Priya and Nadelsalingam Muruguppan fled Sri Lanka and came by boat to Australia seeking asylum in 2012 and 2013, after fears of being persecuted by Sri Lankan authorities for their ethnic Tamil identity during a civil war.
Since then, they have been living in Biloela and applying for asylum claims, were rejected twice, and then detained on Christmas Island in 2019, along with their Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa.
Earlier this week, Tharnicaa, who is three years old, was flown to a Perth emergency hospital with her mother Priya, after feeling severely unwell for ten days. She’s currently in medical care and the event has restarted local protestors’ fight to bring the family back home to Biloela and persuade the government to allow them to permanently settle in Australia.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack told reporters that the family is believed to have reunited today although the government has a “clear and steadfast policy” for people who come to Australia illegally by boat.
“We are all compassionate,” McCormack said. “I appreciate that many people have a view on this matter but we will decide our view, through Alex Hawke, who is the minister, with the proper oversight of this decision.
“He will make that announcement this week and he will base it on humanitarian considerations, on health outcomes, and on legal advice.”
Stay tuned for more from this story as it develops.
