Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andre Giles today granted permanent residency to the Tamil asylum seeker family, the Nadesalingams, who are now in Biloela in Queensland.
“Today, in my capacity as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, following careful consideration of all relevant matters and options before me, I exercised my power under section 195A of the Migration Act 1958 to intervene in the case of the Nadesalingam family,” Giles said in a media statement.
“My intervention provides the family with visas allowing them to remain permanently in Australia,” he said.
The Labor Government had made a commitment before the election that, if elected, it would allow the family to return to Biloela and resolve the family’s immigration status. Thee Government has delivered on that promise.
“This decision follows careful consideration of the Nadesalingam family’s complex and specific circumstances,” said the minister. “I extend my best wishes to the Nadesalingam family.”
The Nadesalingams have been in the centre of a four-year battle to attain permanent residency in Australia, backed by a community-driven campaign in Biloela against their deportation.
However, the Minister cautioned that anyone who attempts to migrate via an unauthorised boat to Australia –will be caught, returned or sent to a regional processing country.
During the past two months, Giles said the Government had demonstrated that it would continue to intercept and return any unauthorised vessels seeking to reach Australia.
“I do not want people to die in a boat on a journey when there is zero chance of settling in Australia.This has not changed since the last Government. We are not considering changing this policy.
“This Government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and stopping people smuggling. We will continue to intercept any unauthorised vessel seeking to reach Australia, and safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin or take them to a regional processing country.”
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