Hyde family granted permanent residency after intervention

This Victorian family was facing deportation after being told their son was a “burden” on Australia. But the trio has revealed how they celebrated after an outpouring of community support and high-level government intervention delivered them the right to stay.

Tony and Christine Hyde with their 3 year old son Darragh. Picture: Jay Town

Little Darragh Hyde didn’t quite know what his family was celebrating last night, but the three-year-old was thrilled to stay up late and have a glass of Fanta.

The Morrison Government yesterday told the Australian-born youngster, and his parents Christine and Anthony Hyde, that it had intervened to grant the trio permanent residency.

The Seymour family had initially faced deportation after their bid for residency was denied because Darragh suffered cystic fibrosis and was considered a “burden” to the nation’s health system.

Ms Hyde told the Herald Sun that the family was “so grateful”, and that her first reaction was “oh my good Lord”.

“It is everyone around you who keeps you positive but there is always that little bit in the back of your mind that thinks what if,” she said.

“Darragh had no idea what was going on but he was just excited to stay up late and have an orange fizzy drink. Tony had a beer and I cracked some champagne.

 

The Hyde family was told they would be allowed to stay as permanent residents. Picture: Jay Town

“It was really special to have that time.”

A call from the family’s lawyers confirming their residency came last night when Mr Hyde – a local SES volunteer – was on his first airport run as a SkyBus driver.

He was called home and the couple hit the phones to share the news with family and friends.

“I woke up this morning thinking, OK, what are we going to do now?,” Ms Hyde said.

“We are going to keep living like we have been because we have always lived like we were permanent residents. We don’t have to worry now.”

Darragh needs the drug, Kalydeco, which is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme but would otherwise cost the family a crippling $300,000 every year.

The family was afraid that a forced return to Ireland would mean at least a 12-month delay in accessing the drug in the Irish health system.

The couple first came to Australia on a working holiday in 2009 and returned in 2011. They applied for permanent residency in 2015, weeks before their son Darragh was born and later diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at eight weeks old.

The close-knit town and school community at Broadford, where Ms Hyde is assistant principal, rallied around the family with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last month calling for “some compassion and common sense’’ to prevail.

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PARENTS' PLEA FOR HELP AS DEPORTATION LOOMS

They had originally been given until June 18 to leave the country, but Mr Coleman agreed to review the case following lobbying from the community.

Under Australian migration law, potential migrants are required to pass a health requirement before they are granted a visa or permanent residency.

If a medical officer of the government deems a medical condition or disability to be too costly for the taxpayer — more than $40,000 — the application for the entire family is denied.

Ms Hyde thanked all those who lobbied on the family's behalf, including the 120,000-plus people who signed an online petition.

“We got our fair go,” she said. “I don’t think we could have done it without everybody, I don’t think this would have been possible.

“They have been so outstanding, they really drove the positive outcome.”