Welcome home: Bilo family finally back on home soil

After four long years, the Murugappan family have touched down in the Central Queensland town they call home and have spoken out about their time in detention.

After four long years, Biloela’s Murugappan family have touched down in the Central Queensland town they call home.

Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two Australian-born daughters, who have been fighting deportation since 2018, were greeted at the airport by dozens of Biloela locals, who have been busy baking cakes and painting welcome-home signs.

The Murugappans arrive back in Biloela. Picture: Jack Tran

Their homecoming followed a national campaign led by Biloela locals to free the family of four who have been detained since an early morning Australian Border Force raid in 2018.

The Tamil parents and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa were held on Christmas Island from 2019 before being moved to community detention in Perth when the youngest daughter fell ill.

The Murugappans arrive back in Biloela. Picture: Jack Tran

Priya Murugappan said “detention life is hard for children” and that they were affected mentally and physically.

She said she looks forward to giving her daughters a fresh start in Biloela.

“Me and my family are very happy,” Ms Murugappan said.

“My community and the Australian people, my family, (for) helping…thank you.

“I am starting a new life, joined with my family.”

Ms Murugappan said the first thing she wanted to do now she was home was to give lots of hugs to friends.

The Biloela Tamil asylum seeker family Tharnicaa and Kopika with mother Priya and father Nades Murugappan, at Brisbane Airport following their long-awaited trip back to Queensland and home to Biloela., Picture: John Gass

They began their journey home to their adopted hometown of Biloela, from Perth on Wednesday after Treasurer Jim Chalmers last month used his ministerial powers to intervene in the family’s case, granting them bridging visas.

The visas will allow the family to remain in Biloela while they work towards resolving their immigration status.

Biloela resident Isabelle Kelleher welcomes back the Murugappans. Picture: Jack Tran

Tharnicaa will celebrate her first birthday outside detention on Sunday with a “pink party”. She was just nine months old when the family were first placed in detention.

Priya and Nades came to Australia from Sri Lanka separately by boat in 2013 and 2014 to seek asylum. They were granted bridging visas and lived and worked in Biloela until their visas expired and they were detained.

The previous Morrison government attempted to deport them in 2019 but was stopped by an injunction. The Coalition said they did not meet the criteria to be classified as refugees.

Biloela residents welcome back Tharnicaa, Kopika, Priya and Nades Murugappan. Picture: Jack Tran

Family friend Bronwyn Dendle said today was a special day for Australia.

“Today is the day that we prove that you should never underestimate the power of the people,” said Ms Dendle, who is running for Labor in Callide at the upcoming state byelection.

“Today is the day where we prove that home will always be where the heart is.

“Today is the day that we prove that love really does conquer all.

“We are so, so grateful to have our beautiful little family home with us in Biloela.”

Tharnicaa and Kopika Murugappan speak to the media outside of Perth Airport. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

Priya and Nades Murugappan on arriving in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled

Biloela locals had a busy morning, baking cakes and painting signs to welcome the Murugappan family back.

Laraine Webster, a friend of the family, shed tears of joy as she picked flowers from her garden on Friday morning to decorate the airport.

“I am just happy that today is here. We have asked why a hundred million times, why are you keeping them in detention … but that is gone now, we have a new era,” she said.

“You can’t put it into words, they are home, it is everything.”

Ms Webster, who was so excited she arrived at the airport three hours early, said she was most looking forward to the family being able to do “normal things”.

“The girls will be able to play in the park like normal children,” she said.

“Everybody grew to love them because they are just caring, hardworking, good people.

“Nades was pushing the trolleys at Woolies when I first got to know him, he was always smiling.

“When their first little girl came along, she would dance around the shopping centre and saying hello.”

Priya, Nades and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa are due to arrive in Biloela at 2.30pm Friday. Picture: Colin Murty