‘Disgraceful’: Sad reason family ordered to leave Australia

A Perth family have less than two weeks to leave the country with the reason leaving fellow Aussies outraged.

A Perth community is rallying behind a family who have been ordered to leave Australia after more than seven years due to their four-year-old daughter’s “learning difficulties”.

Navneet Kaur and her husband moved from India to Australia on student visas in February 2017 and had their young daughter Iris here.

Ms Kaur told news.com.au Australia was the only home Iris had ever known.

But when her application for a skilled nominated visa was declined because of Iris’ diagnosed developmental delays, the family was ordered to leave the country.

They have less than two weeks to move back to India.

“They [government] said if she stays here the cost for two years would be $140,000 and that would be a burden on the community,” Ms Kaur said.

“But we are both working here, from the first day, we already pay taxes and I’ve never asked for any government help.

“I pay everything for my daughter’s therapies and everything out of my own pocket.

“She goes to swimming, she goes to gymnastics, she goes to private school, she goes to therapies and everything is from me.”

Navneet Kaur and her Australian-born daughter Iris. Picture: Facebook

Ms Kaur has worked as the head chef at Perth’s Jarrah Bar and Café for almost five years.

Owner Wes D’Arcy said the Australian government’s decision was “an insult” to Ms Kaur and all of her hard work in a sector with labour shortages.

He said she was an “amazing person” who “everyone loves”.

“She’s like an extended member of our family … it’s obviously a very sad situation,” he told news.com.au.

As for Iris, Mr D’Arcy said she was “a little Australian” with no voice being taken from the only home she has known.

Ms Kaur explained that moving to India would be a big shock for her daughter as she had never been there and it was a very different culture.

She said her whole family felt Australia was their home now.

“When you live seven years in a country you are attached to everything; emotionally, culturally, environmentally. And then when someone kicks you out, it’s devastating,” she said.

The family must leave Australia by August 28. Picture: Facebook

Ms Kaur’s employer says it is an insult to her hard work in this country. Picture: Facebook

Mr D’Arcy shared Ms Kaur’s story on Facebook, with many in the community expressing their outrage about the “disgraceful” and “heartbreaking” situation.

“As someone that knows this family, my heart is truly breaking for them! Iris is such a beautiful little girl and I’ve never met a more devote mother than Navi! My little one will be so heartbroken if Iris leaves! How we can kick out someone that was born in Australia is literally beyond me!” wrote one friend of the family.

“This is unacceptable. They are working, paying taxes and positively contributing to Australia. They deserve that respect in return from this country,” said another.

“This is just horrendous what is happening to this family. Please have some compassion and let them stay,” pleaded a third.

“What an absolute disgrace! This needs to be shared virally to get the word out,” shared a fourth.

Ms Kaur plans to take her case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in a last-ditch effort to keep her family in Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs said it would not comment on individual cases and that all non-citizens who wish to enter or remain in Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994.

“Individuals who no longer hold a valid visa are expected to depart Australia,” a spokesperson said.

“The health requirement is applied equitably to all visa applicants applying for the same visa type. Over 99 per cent of visa applicants meet the health requirement.”