Fears for worst as Biloela family issued deportation notice
THERE are fears Biloela couple Priya, Nades could be forced back to Sri Lanka at any time before Tuesday after they were served a deportation notice last night.
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THERE are fears Biloela couple Priya, Nades could be forced back to Sri Lanka at any time before Tuesday after they were served a deportation notice last night.
The couple has been detained at Melbourne's Broadmeadows Detention Centre for more than 100 days with their daughters Kopika, 3 and Tharunicaa, 1, accused on not obliging to Australia's immigration obligations.
Friend Angela Fredericks said the Australian Border Force issued the notice one day after the Priya and Kopika's deportation appeal was rejected by the Federal Circuit Court.
Ms Fredericks said she was shocked by the Border Force's "sudden move" to deport the family, given they have 19 days to appeal the court decision.
"Priya is utterly distraught," Ms Fredericks said.
"She is terrified for the safety of her two beautiful babies."
The Tamil couple came to Australia by boat separately in 2012 and 2013 and settled in Biloela.
But Priya's bridging visa has since expired.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said years of comprehensive assessment by the Department, tribunals and courts found that the family consistently did not meet Australia's protection obligations.
She said Priya and Nades' lawyer Kajaliny Ranjith was working frantically to ensure the family can appeal the court decision.
"Border Force think that issuing these papers at dusk on a Friday will stop us taking action for Priya and Nades," Ms Fredericks said.
"But country people know how to work on the weekend."
Ms Fredericks repeated her calls for residents to flood Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's Facebook page, emails and office phone with messages in support of the Biloela family.
She has also called on Member for Flynn Ken O'Dowd to "step up and publicly represent his community" on the matter.
Yesterday more than 100 comments were made in six hours on Mr Dutton's Facebook page calling on him to intervene and allow the family back to Biloela.
Originally published as Fears for worst as Biloela family issued deportation notice
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