What will it take to make this Government finally realise that by granting the Murugappan family permission to stay and return to Biloela is a win-win situation.
The family after several years of incarceration finally gets back to normality, the Bilo community will rejoice and welcome them back with open arms, lastly the Government, by showing some empathy and relenting to public sentiment, increases its chances of retaining office at the upcoming election.
The granting of a temporary three month visa to the parents and the eldest child, but excluding the youngest one, is as cruel as it is stupid. Under section 195A, a Minister can intervene and grant a person a visa by the stroke of a pen, if it is deemed to be in the public interest to do so.
As the Murugappan family have overwhelming support within the community at large, what else is Immigration Minister Alex Hawke waiting for?
Come on Minister, get your finger, as well as your pen, out and bring this costly and inhumane saga to an end.
- – M. Stivala, Belconnen ACT
